August 2014 HCCC Newsletter

henrycounty.com a henry county chamber of commerce publication

AUGUST 2014 in this issue Chairman’s Message 2 Business Profile 3 Calendar 4 SBDC 5 Chamber Briefs 6 Leadership Henry 6 Henry Happenings 7 Chamber Membership 10 Business After Hours 11 Business Boosters Luncheon 12 Ribbon Cuttings 13

Comfortably South of Atlanta The Henry County Chamber of Commerce serves as the voice for the business community, provides quality services and programs that meet the needs of its members, improves the economic environment of the community and creates a legacy of leadership for the future.

Only postings about Chamber member businesses appear on the Chamber’s Facebook page?

To have information about your business posted on our social media, contact Lydia Pierre at lpierre@henrycounty.com

YOUR BUSINESS IS OUR BUSINESS

Hampton • Locust Grove • McDonough • Stockbridge

14th Annual Chamber Golf Classic Sign-Up and Sponsorship Opportunities Mark your calendars! The Henry County Chamber of Commerce invites you to participate in its 14th Annual Chamber Golf Classic at Eagle’s Landing Country Club on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. This is the perfect excuse to trade in the business suit for the perfect golf shirt on a gorgeous day. Our annual Golf Classic provides a fun day of golfing and networking with colleagues, including an amazing lunch and heavy hors d’oeuvres reception during the awards ceremony that evening. 130 players and guests will join us for a great day on the course in what is sure to be a spectacular golf tournament filled with fun contests, cash prizes, delicious food and plentiful drinks!

We have several sponsorship opportunities available so that you can show your support to the Chamber and gain exposure for your company!

Your involvement in the 14th Annual Chamber Golf Classic is a meaningful and effective way to invest in the welfare of the community in which your business operates.

Some of the sponsorships include a “Tee Box Sponsor”, where you will have your business logo on two tee markers at 17 of the holes, and we also have a “Scorecard Sponsor”, where your logo will be watermarked on all the scorecards used for the Golf Classic. In

addition, we have the “Putting Green Sponsor”, which is one of the most visible sponsorships we offer with a sponsor banner and tent set up at the putting green placing you in a prime location to be seen by our players.

If a sponsorship does not fit your budget, enter a team of four players for only $800. As if a fantastic day of golfing with friends and co-workers isn’t enough, there will be a Hole-inOne Contest for an all-expenses-paid trip for your entire team to the 2015 Masters Tournament in Augusta, Ga which includes admission, meals and accommodations! Not to mention a Putting Green Contest with a cash prize for the winner, plus other contests and prizes during the event.

Last year’s Golf Classic was a blast and we expect this one to be even better! Thank you to all that attended, volunteered and participated. And an extra thank you to this year’s presenting sponsor, Piedmont Henry. We look forward to seeing you all again this September.

Please contact Gary Sparrow at 770-957-5786 or gsparrow@henrycounty.com for information on sponsorship opportunities or to register your company for the event!

Available Sponsorships: • Putting Green - $4,000 • Tee Box - $4,000 • Scorecard - $2,000 • Gold - $2,500 • Silver - $1,500 • Tent - $500

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HenryCounty.com

Chairman’s Message

Transitioning out of Summer Charlie Scott

August is one of those transitional months of the year. Summer is beginning to wind down and we go from late summer activities to the beginning of fall activities. With this in mind, I would like to focus on two of the events that make August a special month.

In the beginning of the month, on Monday, August 4th, the Henry County School System will begin its fall classes.

We are extraordinarily fortunate to have a system with such quality as ours. Henry County Schools recently received the latest scores from the final Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) and they are a cause for congratulations to all who participated. The Henry County students exceeded the state averages in all tested subjects across all of the six tested grades.

The subjects tested are reading, English/ language arts, math, science, and social studies. Good results such as these do not happen accidently and the leadership of Henry County Schools is to be congratulated on a job well done.

School Superintendent Rodney Bowler shared the following in response to the CRCT results: “In this last year of the CRCT, we are proud to see our students still succeeding at the highest levels. The latest results show a continued trend for our system of outperforming state averages, and this year finds all grades tested exceeding state averages in the five subject areas tested. We maintain our goal of 100 percent of our students meeting or exceeding the standards before them. While we know the Georgia Milestones Assessment System will raise the bar for students all across the state next year, we will continue our efforts to meet our goals and provide educational success for each student. We thank our employees, in particular the teachers, for helping our students to succeed, while we also thank the community at large for supporting our schools and the work performed by students and staff.”

We are also blessed with a number of private schools who add to the educational excellence of Henry County. So if you have the opportunity, please take the time to thank anyone that you know is connected to education in our community and watch out for those children who will be back at the bus stops waiting for bus transportation to school.

Towards the end of the month of August is the anticipation that comes with Labor Day which is a time when Henry County has another event of significance to the community. This is when Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) presents its Labor Day NASCAR race events. The Sunday NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Atlanta 500 is a major sporting event which is one of the largest held in the State of Georgia. In addition, the activities consist of not only a Sunday race, but the whole weekend is filled with opportunities to participate in racing related events.

As with the Board of Education, we are fortunate to have AMS in Henry County.

Their racing events bring millions of dollars to be spent in our community, but that does not even begin to describe their impact. Their non-profit affiliate, Speedway Children’s Charities, awarded over $112,000 to 24 different Georgia Charities in 2013. Founded in 1994, the Atlanta Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities has raised and donated in excess of $2,900,000 to qualifying Georgia charities. Also, AMS directly impacts local non-profits as well with substantial community support for organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America. The President of AMS, Mr. Ed Clark, was recently recognized by the Charlie Scott is President and CEO of Piedmont Henry

Boy Scouts for his outstanding support through the years.

In their own way, both the Board of Education and Atlanta Motor Speedway are both very important components of economic development in our community. The schools provide a very well educated and talented workforce while AMS not only creates direct jobs with its operations, but gives Henry County an opportunity to showcase all that it has to offer to the thousands of race fans that will be here. The start of the academic year and the Atlanta 500 may be at opposite ends of August, but they both play an important role in our community, and we should be proud that they are in Henry County.

I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome our new Communications Director, Lydia Pierre. Lydia joined the Chamber in July and has made an immediate impact with her enthusiasm and skill. Lydia has a great talent for written and electronic communications to go along with an engaging personality and great smile. We welcome her to the Chamber and hope that you will take the opportunity to visit the Chamber and introduce yourself to her.

Welcome Lydia

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Business Profile

First National Bank (Hampton Branch) About the Company First National Bank of Griffin (Hampton Branch) provides full Service Banking and Financial Services to its customers in Hampton. These services include Personal & Business Account Services; Mortgage, Retail & Commercial Lending; as well as Trust & Investment Services. They have built a legacy of integrity, reliability, trust and innovation. They have done this by partnering with their neighbors in homes and businesses, in education, in saving for a comfortable future and by helping their customers grow their financial strength. They believe in being partners in each other’s dreams.

First National Bank of Griffin (FNB) has a vision of serving our growing community through new technology for managing their customer’s financial needs.

They are determined to show that they can do business with professionalism and integrity every day because they believe that nothing is more important to a customer’s financial management than integrity. The needs change. The dreams change. Integrity doesn’t.

Community Support The First National Bank of Griffin has had a presence in Henry County since 1997 and has found ways to give back to the community by becoming Partners in Education with Luella Elementary School and supporting various non-profits such as The United Way, The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and the Henry County Council On Aging Miles of Meals Walk.

Chamber Involvement Recognizing the value of Chamber membership, the First National Bank of Griffin is not only a member but their assistant VP, Ed Taylor, is also part of the

Every LIFE has a story.

Celebrate it!

Greg Cannon

770-914-1414

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BELLAMY-STRICKLAND Chevrolet • Buick • Pontiac • GMC Trucks

770 -954-3000 BELLAMY STRICKLAND

I-75 . 155 Hwy McDonough

I-75 • Exit 216 145 Industrial Blvd.

McDonough, GA

Chamber Ambassador Committee. FNB believes that being part of the Chamber provides an exceptional opportunity to partner and network with other organizations and businesses throughout Henry County. Being a community bank, First National Bank believes that getting out in to the communities where they live and work is vital to achieving the bank’s vision and goals. “Ultimately, this helps us to build true and lasting relationships with our customers, enabling us to better serve their financial needs,” said Taylor. The First National Bank of Griffin (Hampton Branch) has been a loyal Chamber member since 1997.

Edward L. Taylor Jr. Assistant Vice President Branch Manager Retail Loan Officer

For more information about First National Bank of Griffin (Hampton Branch), contact Edward L. Taylor Phone: 678-510-5259 eltaylor@fnbbanking.com www.fnbgriffin.com

Testimonials

“As a member of the Henry County Chamber of Commerce my business is eligible for business insurance discounts. I was even able to get a discount on my personal automobile policy. Overall I was able to save more than $1,000 on the yearly premiums, and all it took was a call to my agent letting them know I was a member of the Chamber.”

Allen Grant – The Pumpkin Patch at Yule Forest

“The chamber has helped us greatly since we opened our business. Just a year ago, we were just opening and scared to see if we would be able to keep our heads above water. Gary entered our office to talk to us about joining the chamber.

Honestly, we were skeptical but decided to take a

chance. After only one year, we have expanded our office and are offering new classes. We have gotten some students because they saw us on the chamber website. I also know that when the opportunity arises, the chamber and its members will promote our business. We really appreciate what the chamber does for our business and look forward to continuing to work with the Chamber!”

Shelly Rohde – MedPrepSouth

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AUGUST 2014 Sunday

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8 AM Youth Leadership Henry BOD, BR

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3 PM One Henry Econ Devp Comm, BR

10 AM Membership Committee, BR

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11 AM HCCC Executive Committee, BR

31 Chamber Staff David Gill, President & CEO Laura Luker, Director of Tourism Lydia Pierre, Director of Communications Gary Sparrow, Membership Director Phyllis Reeves, Information Specialist 2014 Board of Directors Executive Committee Charlie Scott, Chairman, Piedmont Henry June Wood, Chair Elect, Individual Member Leonard Moreland, Secretary/Treasurer, Heritage Bank Eddie Ausband, Immediate Past Chair, The Ausband Agency, Inc. Brad Thomas, Vice Chair for Economic & Cultural Development, Snapping Shoals EMC William Strickland, Vice Chair for Chamber Development, Bellamy-Strickland Chevrolet-Buick-GMC Shane Persaud, Vice Chair for Government & Education, Communities in Schools of Henry County

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11:30 AM Government Affairs Committee, HR

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8:30 AM Community Connections Comm, BR

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11:30 AM Golf Committee, ELCC

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7:30 AM HCCC BOD, BR 12 PM Ambassadors Luncheon

Jeff Mills, CVB Chair David Gill, HCCC President and CEO

CLASS OF 2014 James Chafin, Henry County State Court Lisa Kinchen, Southern Journal Magazine Leonard Moreland, Heritage Bank Sharon Ponder, Bennett International Group, LLC William Strickland, Bellamy-Strickland Chevrolet-Buick-GMC Brad Thomas, Snapping Shoals EMC

CLASS OF 2015 Herschel Arant, Central Georgia EMC Greg Hammonds, Whaley Hammonds Tomasello John Newman, Classic Landscapes, Inc. Rhett Tucker, Checks Superstore Laura Turner, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta June Wood, Individual Member Scott Whitmire, Georgia Power

10 AM Small Business Council, BR 11 AM Business Boosters Luncheon, HR

5:30 PM Business After Hours, Heritage Bank 203 Keys Ferry St.

CLASS OF 2016 Toni Davis, Individual Member Wayne Lowrey, United Community Bank Melissa Malcom, Melissa P. Malcom, LLC Steve Nail, Nail Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. Shane Persaud, Communities In Schools of Henry County Denise Sowell, Cap1tol Street Financial Services Group

Ex Officio Members Tommy Smith, Chairman, HC Board of Commissioners Mayor Billy Copeland, City of McDonough Mayor Robert Price, City of Locust Grove Mayor Steve Hutchison, City of Hampton Mayor Tim Thompson, City of Stockbridge Rodney Bowler, Superintendent, Henry County Schools Bill Herndon, Chairman, Henry County Development Authority Roderick Burch, Henry County Water Authority Donna Braddy, Chair, Leadership Henry

CHAIR APPOINTEES Nadia Faucette, Georgia Power Rod Meadows, Meadows & Macie, PC Nick Williams, Eagle’s Landing Family Practice

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Business Opportunities in Georgia’s Film and Television Industry (Part III of a III-Part Series)

Judiffier Pearson, Business Consultant Clayton State University SBDC This series has focused on the impact of film and television productions on Georgia’s economy and how your company can become a “camera-ready” vendor. So, how do you break into the industry once your business is ready?

The answer lies at the intersection of Relationships and Opportunities.

Relationship building is a bedrock of the film and television industry. Feature films are primarily developed with unionized cast and crew who place a high value on craft mastery, hierarchy, teamwork, and reputation. All of which require long-term engagement with a community of practice.

Smaller, independent productions have very limited resources and budgets, where costly mistakes can bring operations to a screeching halt. Once resources have proven to be tried and true, decisionmakers for large and small productions stick with what (and who) they know and trust to get the job done on time and within

budget. To gain entry into this market, you will often have to get to know, or be known by, some “insiders”.

• Attend industry events like those offered by the Georgia Production Partnership and local film festivals.

• Leverage social media like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to build industry relationships.

• Get on the radar of Unit Production Managers and department heads (keys) that are responsible for “below-the-line” expenditures (e.g. crew wages, equipment rentals, location fees, props, office space, etc.). They negotiate deals based on recommendations and prior experience with trusted individuals.

The key to seizinging opportunities is recognizing them when they appear.

Cofer Brothers, Inc. is a family-owned building materials supplier in Tucker, GA. When residential construction dried up in 2007, the company faced the threat of bankruptcy. But Chip Cofer, CEO, noticed that they were selling a significant amount of lumber and materials to film

and television productions for building sets. The subsequent decision to make film and TV production a target market saved the company. Currently, 35-40% of Cofer’s revenue comes from this niche. It was smart to pay attention to ancillary transactions then convert them to key customers. Company leaders took the time to study and communicate with their new market, purposing to discover and provide what these customers were buying elsewhere, rather than just push what Cofer already had.

This required an operational shift, including dedicated staff members for entertainment-related accounts, meeting accelerated delivery schedules, and stocking specialty inventory.

Georgia productions are expected to double in impact as rival states discontinue film tax credits. To capitalize on burgeoning business opportunities in film and TV, register for our Fall 2014 “Business Behind-theScenes” series of classes, forums, and bootcamps at www.morrowsbdc.org.

The Educated Plumber 770-474-5555

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Chamber Briefs.

Congratulations to...

Commissioner Bruce Holmes of Major Mark Amerman on Henry County District 5 for being being appointed as the honored as a 2014 recipient of the new Henry County deputy Men of Influence of Atlanta Business chief on Monday June League. He joins a prestigious list of 16, 2014. Amerman is men having recently been named to Georgia POST Instructor the Atlanta Business Leagues’ 2014 Men of Influence Certified, a graduate of Georgia SWAT School, and the and was honored on July 1, 2014 at the Hyatt Regency in U.S. Army SWAT and Counter Sniper schools.

Atlanta during the 8th annual Reception and Induction Ceremony.

Nic Spann of Henry County Water Authority, who narrowly defeated fellow HCWSA coworker Brook Jackson to win the statewide Meter Madness competition. This contest is held each year during the Spring Conference of the Georgia Association of Water Professionals to determine which water professional can assemble a water meter in the shortest amount of time.

Spann brought home the 2014 Meter Madness state championship, with a time of 34.9 seconds.

Henry County Water Authority(HCWA) on their recent annual water quality report which reveals that HCWA meets or exceeds drinking water standards during 2013.

It is great to know that HCWA carefully monitors its product to provide consumers with confidence that the local water is clean and safe to drink.

Vanessa Conwell of the financial services firm Edward Jones in Henry County, Georgia who recently won the firm’s exclusive Spirit of Partnership Award for outstanding performance during PastaMax Café located in the McDonough Square on 2013. Conwell was one of only celebrating 20 years.

1,053 financial advisors out of the firm’s more than 13,000 to receive the award.

If you are a Chamber member with The Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary famous trio “BLT” (bear, lion and tiger) who turned 13 on June 21, 2014. Baloo the bear, Leo the lion and Shere Khan the tiger, were discovered in an Atlanta home’s basement by police officers during a drug raid and brought to Noah’s Ark by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The sanctuary hosted a birthday party that included a picnic lunch, music and guest speakers.

Leadership Henry Set to Welcome New Class The Leadership Henry Board of Directors recently announced the newest class of community members selected for the annual program. The Class of 2015 consists of 41 community and business representatives from the surrounding area.

To provide the official start to the group’s monthly enrichment activities, a kick-off luncheon has been planned for Tuesday, August 19, 2014, at the Henry County Chamber of Commerce’s Hudgins Room. During the luncheon, many class members will get their first opportunity to meet fellow class members and find out the agenda for all they will learn about Henry County over the coming months.

During the course of the program, class members will gather once a month to learn about such topics as education, economic development, healthcare, and government.

Before the specific one-day learning opportunities, each class always takes part in a retreat. The two-day retreat will be at Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge,

Georgia, on September 4-5. At the retreat, class members will spend time getting better acquainted with fellow classmates and participating in a host of team-building activities. The meeting time also serves as one of the first opportunities to learn about and start planning for the annual class service project known as Hands on Henry.

Individuals interested in learning more about Leadership Henry or wishing to apply for next year’s class can visit www.leadershiphenry.com.

Sponsors Getting Recognition The Leadership Henry Class of 2014 has begun recognition efforts of the top sponsors for the 2014 Hands on Henry event held on April 19. For being a Platinum or Gold sponsor, those businesses are receiving visits from 2014 Class Members who are presenting the business or group sponsor with a plaque for their support.

All sponsors of the one-day community service project received recognition and publicity in various ways in appreciation of their support.

good news to share, send your logo and/or photo and information to lpierre@henrycounty.com and let us congratulate YOUR business!

(L-R) JD Hardin, 2014 Hands on Henry Event Co-Chair, with Michelle Nunnally and Donna Braddy of Piedmont Henry Hospital, a Gold Sponsor, and Greg Russell, 2014 Hands on Henry Projects/Logistics Co-Chair.

HenryCounty.com

it’s happening in Henry

Locust Grove Farmer’s Market Saturdays, 8:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.

Locust Grove Train Watching Platform Hampton Depot Market Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Hampton Depot

Enjoy lunch and camaraderie in the park.

Georgia grown produce-fresh and ripe.

Georgia made jewelry, baked goods, artwork and more!

Georgia Tax Free Weekend Sale August 1-2 Tanger Outlets Tax Free Weekend is Back! Shop Tanger Outlets during the Tax Free Weekend Sale Friday August 1st and Saturday August 2nd. This is a great time to save on all your favorite brand names to meet your back-to-school shopping needs. Save even more with your Tangerstyle 20% off coupons good at participating retailers. Simply pick up your Tangerstyle coupons at the start of your shopping trip at Tanger’s Shopper Services, located between Nine West (Suite 222) and Toys R’ Us Express.

Shopping hours extended until 10 pm Friday and Saturday!

O’Reilly Auto Parts Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine August 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 6:30 p.m. Atlanta Motor Speedway Competing nearly every Friday night from May through September, local competitors power up for weekly drag racing among several divisions.

Everything from full-blown dragsters to grandma’s grocery-getter will compete in side-by-side, heads-up drag racing along the speedway’s pit road eighthmile drag strip. The Show-N-Shine Car Show offers fans a chance to show off their rides in the comforts of the NASCAR garage. Participating ShowN-Shine vehicles will be displayed on the front stretch prior to the start of opening ceremonies, allowing fans an opportunity to walk on the track and look at the show cars up close.

Admission is only $8 and children five and under is free. Visit www. atlantamotorspeedway.com for more information or call (770) 946-4211.

Pacemaker 5000 August 9, 6:00 p.m.

Eagles Brooke Community Benefiting the Marcus Autism Center Ladies Night Out August 14, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

McDonough Square Ladies, enjoy fresh cut watermelons, games, social activities, fresh produce, and baked goods. For more information or questions, please call (770) 898-9868 or www.mainstreetmcdonough.com.

Comfortably South of Atlanta Henry County Farmer’s Market Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Jason T. Harper Event Center

15 minutes before each program.

Participants must register and pay in advance-$7 plus $5 for parking. For more information about the Moonlight Mountain Hike, call (770) 389-7801.

Book Bag Giveaway August 2, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Locust Grove City Hall Relevant Church will be giving away book bags with school supplies such as paper, pencils, folders, crayons, etc.

Each child needing a book bag will need to be present.

Richard Petty Driving Experience August 15-16 Atlanta Motor Speedway Enjoy an experience of a lifetime by driving or riding in a 600HP NASCAR race car with Richard Petty Driving Experience at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

There is no better memory of Atlanta than roaring around the track at speeds of up to 160 MPH while your friends and family cheer you on from pit road. For more information visit, www.drivepetty. com or call 1 (800) BE-PETTY.

USSSA Showcase Tournament August 2-3 Visit: www.co.henry.ga.us/ ParksRecreation/index.shtml or call (770) 288-7300 for more information Midnite Cruzer Band regarding tournament. at Sounds on the Square August 16, 7:00 p.m.

A Toast to Art - “Summer McDonough Square Art Camp” Classic Rock – 70s & 80s.

August 4-8 A Toast to Art Studio A Toast to Art presents “Summer Art Fifth Annual Middle Georgia Camp” for ages 6-12. This camp will Model Railroad Club Display offer kids the opportunity to get creative August 16, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. with canvas painting, Mod Podge Aug. 17, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. crafts, self-portrait projects, beading Historic Hampton Depot Flyin Dirty Family and more! Learn more by contacting The Mid Georgia Model Railroad Club Mud Run 5K & Obstacle info@atoasttoart.com. *All dates are will be setting up a model train display August 2, 9:00 a.m. determined by the number of sign-ups. at the Historic Hampton Train Depot Griffin Spalding Airport Benefiting Griffin Composite Squadron for public viewing. This is a friendly Moonlight Mountain Hike Booster Club and knowledgeable group of model August 9, 7:30 p.m. train enthusiasts. This is a FREE event Panola Mountain State Park Cinema on the Square – sponsored by the City of Hampton Join us for an enchanted evening as “The Lego Movie” Main Street Program! For additional we hike to the mountaintop under the August 2, 8:00 p.m. information call (770) 946-4306 ext. moon.

We’ll head out just before sunset McDonough Square For more information about and enjoy the stroll as the moon begins 2225 or Email Cinema on the Square, visit www. to rise. Bring flashlights, hiking boots Dmckay@CityofHampton-Ga.Gov. mainstreetmcdonough.com. and water. Meet at the nature center

7 Monty Python’s SPAMALOT presented by The Henry Players August 21-24, Thursday – Saturday, 7:30 p.m. & Sunday, 2:30 p.m.

The Henry County Performing Arts Center SPAMALOT is a musical comedy “lovingly ripped off from” the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Like the film, it is a highly irreverent parody of the Arthurian Legend, but it differs from the film in many ways.

150th Anniversary of Kilpatrick’s Raid August 22-24 Nash Farm Battlefield & Museum Living history and artillery demonstrations. For additional information or questions visit http://www.henrycountybattlefield. com/150th_event.

Bridgit Mendler in Concert August 24, 2:00 p.m.

Tanger Outlet You know her from Disney’s Good Luck Charlie and releasing hits like Hurricane and Ready or Not. Get psyched for a mini-concert with Bridgit Mendler at Tanger Outlets Locust Grove, plus a fun Q&A session and autograph time. Bridgit’s got major style so be sure to take some fashion notes, then score big with awesome back-to-school sales at your favorite Tanger Outlet stores.

Haulers through Hampton August 28, 6:30 p.m.

Hampton Main Street “Haulers through Hampton” is Hampton’s kickoff to Atlanta Motor Speedway race weekend! There will be a street party following the parade. We will have a Hampton NASCAR Walk of Fame Introduction ceremony. There will also be fun activities for kids to enjoy. Hampton Main Street businesses will be open throughout the event.

Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Wetumpka Qualifying Night & Sprint Car Shootout August 29, 7:10 p.m. & 8:45 p.m.

Atlanta Motor Speedway NASCAR’s top stars return to the high banks of Atlanta Motor Speedway for three evenings of NASCAR night

racing. The weekend begins with the Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Wetumpka NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying which will set the field for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race.

Following qualifying, the drivers of the United Sprint Car Series will take on the quarter-mile “Thunder Ring” in the return of sprint car racing at AMS in the Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Sprint Car Shootout. Admission is just $20 and kids 12 and under are free with an adult ticket. Call (877) 9-AMSTIX, (770) 946-4211, or visit www. atlantamotorspeedway.com.

Great Clips 300 to benefit Feed The Children August 30, 7:30 p.m.

Atlanta Motor Speedway NASCAR’s top stars return to the high banks of Atlanta Motor Speedway for the second of three evenings of NASCAR night racing. Saturday’s action will include NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice, followed by 300 miles of high-speed havoc in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Great Clips 300 to benefit Feed The Children under the lights at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Adult tickets start at $30. Children 12 and under are admitted free with a paid adult ticket in General Admission seating. Call (877) 9-AMS-TIX, (770) 946-4211, or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Atlanta 500 August 31, 7:30 p.m.

Atlanta Motor Speedway The superstars of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series return to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series night race on Labor Day weekend.

Watch the sparks fly as the world’s best drivers battle to the checkered flag for much needed points entering the postseason. Adult tickets start at $39 and student tickets start at $19. Call (877) 9-AMS-TIX, (770) 946-4211, or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

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Convention & Visitors Bureau

Billy Copeland, Mayor

1709 Highway 20 West Westridge Business Center McDonough, GA 30253

770-957-3915

770-957-5786

770-946-8088 Nail-Air.com

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 75 FIFTH STREET NW, SUITE 175 ATLANTA, GA 30308 ECONDEVGA@SOUTHERNCO.COM WWW.SELECTGEORGIA.NET

Henry County’s choice for

770-775-7857 www.cgemc.com

City of Stockbridge Tim Thompson, Mayor 770-389-7910

Rodney Bowler Superintendent 770-957-6601 770-914-6178 FAX rodney.bowler@henry.k12.ga.us 22 N. Zack Hinton Parkway McDonough, Georgia 30253

McDonough

865 Hwy.20/81 West McDonough, GA 30253

770-898-1988

StockbriDge

850 Eagles Lndg. Pkwy.

Stockbridge, GA 30281

770-507-5855

LocuSt grove

Henry County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

770-288-3500

Proudly Serving Henry County

4870 Bill Gardner Pkwy.

Locust Grove, HA 30248

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Welcome to our NEW Chamber Members American Heritage Gun Range Training Center Sherri Fort 775 Highway 42 North McDonough GA 30253 (678) 432-4867

Nidus Development, LLC Gregory Daniel 1 John James Audubon Pkwy STE. 201 Amherst NY 14228 (716) 204-4500

Atlanta South Safe & Lock Randy Hutchings 6045 North Henry Blvd.

Stockbridge GA 30281 (770) 474-0029

Paideia Arts, Inc. Tianna Pourciau Sykes 631 Preston Creek Dr McDonough GA 30253 (678) 753-5899

Backwoods Graphics Chris Dirgo 4408 Hwy 42 South Suite A Locust Grove GA 30248 (470) 336-9056

Southern Lawncare Specialists, LLC Thomas Ambrose P.O. Box 2508 Stockbridge GA 30281 (678) 848-8042

Lendmark Financial Kyle Howlett 113 Willow Ln McDonough GA 30253 (770) 954-7419

Stockbridge Iron, Inc Alan Bryant 140 Old Stagecoach Rd Stockbridge GA 30281 (770) 474-7438

To our RENEWING Chamber Members ALPHA Tire & Auto Apex Controls, Inc. Apollo Staffing Atlanta Bible College Atlanta Heart Associates Bank of the Ozarks Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate - Ann Francis Brooks Brothers - Locust Grove C. W. Matthews Contracting Co., Inc Cap1tol Street Financial Services Group Chapman Insurance Group Inc. / Nationwide Insurance City of Hampton Downtown Development Authority Comfort Suites - Locust Grove Creekside Christian Academy Dimension One, Inc. DMG Images, LLC Dogwood Forest Assisted Living Edward Jones Investments - Jeremy Lange Emporium @ Hampton Facet Technologies Gas South, LLC Haisten Funeral Home

Henry County Rodeo Association Heron Bay Golf and Country Club John Deere Parts Distribution Center Koppar Corporation Legal Shield - Beverly Van Gorder Liliana Mejia, D.D.S., L.L.C. LOGIC Technologies, Inc. McDonough First United Methodist Church MedPrepSouth Newton Electric Supply Offshore Logistics, LLC Personnel Options, Inc. Plumbers United, Inc. Pyke & Associates, PC Seiler & Associates, Inc. Sleep Inn Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. Tony Moye Turning Point Church United Way Windamir Development & Construction Your Home Team Realty

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business AFTER HOURS

August Business After Hours Hosted by Heritage Bank 203 Keys Ferry Street • McDonough, GA Thursday, August 28, 2014 – 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Investing in Our Community Heritage Bank has been serving metro Atlanta’s Southern Crescent since 1955. The independent community bank has six full service offices, features a wellrounded offering of commercial and consumer products, and is an active, involved member of the community it serves. They have some of the best and brightest professionals in the industry.

Their philosophy is this:

When you bring your deposit dollars to Heritage Bank, we use those deposit dollars in the form of loans to local business owners- those owners in our three county market area. We ARE NOT taking local deposit dollars from Henry, Clayton, and Fayette counties and investing them in other states across the country. This means when you bank at Heritage Bank, you are a part of INVESTING IN YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY!

Take this opportunity to learn about their products while you mingle with colleagues and enjoy refreshments with catering by The Grand Gourmet. Heritage Bank will be serving spiked strawberry mango punch, as well as offering cold hard cash as door prizes from the Heritage bank vault! Business After Hours are free networking events for members and their invited (adult) guests.

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June Business After Hours !! Fun & Games !!

Pin Strikes Entertainment Center was a happening place the night of the June Business After Hours. With summer specials for kids, event rooms, a full bar and built-in entertainment, it is no surprise that Pin Strikes draws both summer day camps and corporate events. In one of the private event

rooms, Chamber members were treated to a tasty selection from the onsite restaurant, Pin Strikes Grill, before fastening the Velcro on their bowling shoes for a few good natured games.

The evening could have been even more memorable for three lucky people if they had

been in attendance. Rev. Michael Strickland of Victory Tabernacle Church International, Mr. Bill Williams of Xpress Signs & Cornhole and Ms. Ann Francis of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate’s names were all drawn for the Chamber Jackpot, but were not there to claim their prize.

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business

Boosters luncheon

August Business Boosters Luncheon Come Talk Business with the Georgia Department of Labor August 21, 2014 • 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

As business owners, employers and employees, it’s important that we understand the resulting benefits that can occur when you are aware of the services that the Department of Labor provides to the community. Indications are that a lot of people still have questions, are misinformed, or need assurance, regarding the way the state views the operations of a labor department and its relationship to economic development and the private sector. Be there on August 21st for Georgia Department of Labor Commissioner Mark Butler’s visit and presentation at the Henry County Chamber of Commerce during the

Business Booster’s Luncheon.

If you have questions such as: • How can the Department of Labor help small businesses in areas of employment?

• What is the latest information concerning employment initiatives and programs including tax credits and other incentives?

Here’s your opportunity to ask these and any other question you may have of the Commissioner. Commissioner Butler is looking forward to seeing you and everyone during the meeting and discussing issues of interest and concern within the community. Attend the August 21 Business Boosters Luncheon to get factual information from those who have the facts. Then together we can help share correct information with business acquaintances, residents, friends and family.

The cost for this catered lunch is $12 for Chamber members who register and pay online or $15 at the door and $20 for non-members who register and pay online or $23 at the door.

Reservations are required by August 19 for planning purposes and can be made and paid online at www.henrycounty.com. Go to the Events calendar, then the BBL for August 21.

To cover catering costs, no-shows will be billed.

Lunch will be catered by Phenomenal Food by Chef Holly.

June Business Boosters Luncheon

Film & Tourism Work Hand-in-Hand to Benefit Henry County $940 million – This is how much the television and film industry spent on productions within the State of Georgia in 2013, which amounted to $3.3 billion in economic impact. With Georgia now ranking as the third most popular location for movie (and television) magic, communities all over the state are beginning to see the many benefits of working with the film industry.

Laura Luker, Director of Tourism for the Henry County Convention and Visitors Bureau as well as Henry County’s “Camera Ready” contact, spoke at the June Business Boosters Luncheon on this subject. Henry County has already been the location

of several well-known productions such as “The Walking Dead” and “Anchorman 2” as well as Season One of the new television show “Resurrection” which was filmed largely in the McDonough area. In her role as Camera Ready Contact, Laura helps connect film companies with locations and services necessary for their projects. She shared how local businesses and residents can get involved by getting their businesses listed as potential vendors or their houses or other properties listed as available filming locations.

As the Director of Tourism, Laura not only works with the film companies while they are in town, but also

Race Weekend Offers Opportunity for Henry County to Shine Here at the Henry County Chamber of Commerce, we have “Chamber Ambassadors” that represent the Chamber at ribbon cuttings and other Chamber functions. With all of the exciting things happening in Henry County, the Chamber now needs all of our members to be Henry County Ambassadors. With the upcoming race weekend, we are asking that all businesses help welcome race fans to Henry County.

However, we do not want to just stop at welcoming them, we want their Henry County experience to be so exceptional that they feel the need to share it via social media, TripAdvisor and of course, in their conversations with friends. Being that race fans pour in from all over the country, many may not realize that the Atlanta Motor Speedway is not in fact in Atlanta, but it is actually in Henry County. These race fans are in a great position to act as new emissaries for Henry County

helping to spread the word about Henry County being a great place to visit, live, work and especially a great place to play! How you do this is up to you, but there is plenty of room for creativity!

In an ongoing effort to create a welcoming atmosphere in Henry County, the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) will be selling commemorative t-shirts and providing free “We Love Race Fans” buttons to all businesses willing to have their employees wear them.

You can request these items by contacting Laura Luker at lluker@henrycounty.com.

If you have a business that provides goods and services to race fans while they are in town, tell them to take their receipts, totaling at least $25, to the CVB’s booth in the Fan Zone at Atlanta Motor Speedway to earn prizes.

You can find out more about the “Receipt Redemption” program by contacting Laura Luker at 770-957-5786.

promotes the fact that they have been in Henry County. “Film tourism is huge,” stated Ms. Luker “In this new age of experiential tourism, more than ever people want to see where their favorite shows and movies are made.”

Film tourism, is just one piece of the larger tourism puzzle in Henry County. The economic impact of youth sports tournaments, NASCAR races and the visitors to Henry County unique attractions like Noah’s Ark, are major players in Henry County’s economy. Attendees looked shocked to realize that in 2012 alone tourist spent approximately $215 million in Henry County which averages to close to $600,000 per day. Laura shared that the economic impact of the youth baseball and softball tournaments alone approached $14 million. Each attendee was presented with a “Tourism Tax Relief” check for $216, which is how much tourism saved each Henry County household in 2012.

For more information on tourism in Henry County or on working with the film industry contact Laura Luker at (770) 957-5786 or lluker@ henrycounty.com.

Dottie WISE

Associate Broker dottie.wise@metrobrokers.com metrobrokers.com/dottie.wise 404.843.2500 Office 678-443-8407 Direct 404.683.0912 Mobile METRO BROKERS 1401 Highway 20 West McDonough, GA 30253

Each Firm is independently Owned and Operated

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June 17th Thrifty Shopper’s Boutique Contact: Carolyn McKenzie 4020 East Lake Pkwy.

McDonough, Ga. 30253 (770) 873-4496 www.twitter.com/TBSNatl

June 18th Penmac

Contact: Carlotta VanHouten 362 Racetrack Road, McDonough, Ga. 30252 (770) 898-1746 www.penmac.com/locations/mcdonough

Ribbon

June 24th MedPrepSouth CNA Program Contact: Scott Rohde 11 Pine Grove Road, Locust Grove, Ga. 30248 (678) 463-8206 www.medprepsouth.com

Cuttings June 26th Primal Fitness Personal Training Contact: Ms. Erin M. See 1060 Eagle’s Landing Pkwy., Stockbridge, Ga. 30281 (404) 914-0623 www.erinmsee.com

July 10th Wholesale and Liquidation Experts LLC Contact: Matthew Brenckle 695 Red Oak Road, Stockbridge, Ga. 30281 (678) 284-9100 www.wlexperts.com

July 12th Backwoodz Graffix Contact: Chris Dirgo 4408 Highway 42 South, Locust Grove, Ga 30248 (470) 336-9056

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June 25th Southern Crescent Breast Specialists Contact: Dr. Davis Timbert M.D. 1240 Eagle’s Landing Pkwy. Suite 280 Stockbridge, Ga. 30281 (770) 507-5055 www.scbspc.com

June 25th The Breast Health Center at Piedmont Henry

1240 Eagle’s Landing Pkwy. Suite 200, Stockbridge, Ga. 30281 (678) 604-1000 www.piedmont.org/locations/phh-home.aspx

July 17th Southern Crescent Technical College Henry County Center Contact: Kristen Miller (770) 914-4411 www.sctech.edu

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FINANCIAL FOCUS Are You a Baby Boomer? Don’t Let Retirement Plans Go Bust.

If you’re a baby boomer, you’re at the point in life where, if you haven’t actually entered retirement, you’re at least approaching the outskirts.

But if you’re like many of your fellow boomers, you may be experiencing more than a little trepidation over your financial prospects as a retiree.

That’s why it’s so important for you to determine what steps to take to help improve your chances of enjoying a comfortable retirement.

Just how worried are baby boomers about their future? Consider these numbers: Seventy-two percent of nonretired boomers think they will probably be forced to delay retirement, and 50 percent have little confidence that they

will ever be able to retire, according to a recent AARP survey. Other surveys show a similarly bleak outlook among the baby boom generation.

Fortunately, when it comes to building resources for retirement, you have options. Of course, if you’re in one of the younger age cohorts of the baby boom generation, your possibilities are greater — you may still have time to take measures such as boosting your 401(k) and IRA contributions, reducing your debts and positioning your portfolio to provide you with a reasonable amount of growth potential.

But even if you are pretty close to retirement, or at least close to the point where you initially expected to retire,

you can act to better your outcome.

For one thing, you could re-evaluate your planned date of retirement. If you really don’t mind your job and could extend your working life for even a couple of years, you could help yourself enormously in at least three ways: You’ll add on to your retirement accounts. The longer you work, the more you can contribute to your IRA and your 401(k) or other employerssponsored account.

You may be able to delay taking Social Security. You can start taking Social Security as early as age 62, but your benefits will be permanently reduced unless you wait until your Full Retirement Age (FRA), which will likely

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

Edward Jones does not provide tax or legal advice.

be 66 or 67. Your payments can increase if you delay taking your benefits beyond your Full Retirement Age, up to age 70.

You may be able to delay tapping into your retirement vehicles. The longer you wait until you begin withdrawals from your IRA and 401(k), the more time you are giving these accounts to potentially grow. (Once you turn 70½, you will need to generally start taking withdrawals from a traditional IRA and a 401(k) or similar plan, but you don’t face this requirement with a Roth 401(k) account.)

As an alternative to delaying your retirement — or possibly as an additional step you can take along with a delay — you may be able to adjust

your investment mix to provide you with the combination of growth and income that can help carry you through your retirement years. You can also be strategic about which investments you start taking withdrawals from, possibly allowing your portfolio to grow more than you had envisioned.

Start thinking now about ways you can help yourself achieve the retirement lifestyle you’ve pictured.

You may want to consult with a professional financial advisor who can suggest the strategies and techniques most appropriate for your situation. In any case, with some careful planning, you can be a boomer whose retirement plans don’t go bust.

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Even If You Lose Your Job, To make sense of your retirement You Still Have Choices. savings alternatives, call today During difficult times, it’s easy to feel like things are out of your control. So it’s essential to consider every financial decision carefully, especially when it comes to your retirement savings.

Edward Jones can help. We’ll start by getting to know your goals. Then we’ll sort through your current situation and work with you face-to-face to develop a strategy that can help you keep your retirement on track.

Financial Advisor Financial Advisor Financial Advisor John H. Dorminy IV, AAMS® Paul D. Rippa Lin Watts, AAMS® 190 Turner Street 2141 Highway 155 North 305 Olde Towne Way McDonough, GA 30253 McDonough, GA 30252 McDonough, GA 30252 (770) 957-0250 (678) 583-5090 (678) 583-1325

Member SIPC

www.edwardjones.com

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