Henry County Update - June 11, 2013

June 11, 2013

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Two Projects That Will Transform Fairview Get Underway

Regular Meetings June 18th at 6:30 p.m.

Meetings held at: Administration Building Community Room 140 Henry Parkway McDonough, GA 30253 Commission meetings will air Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays on Henry TV Channel 14, at 9 a.m., 2 p.m., & 7 p.m.

We are now on AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 & Charter Channel 14

The Henry County Board of Commissioners, District V Commissioner Bruce Holmes, Nidus Development and the SPLOST Department will join forces later this month for a groundbreaking ceremony on two transformative projects that will change the face of the Fairview area, serving

to improve commute times, improve access to healthcare and stimulate commerce in the area.

The first project is the Fairview Road Widening Project, one of the biggest transportation projects remaining on the SPLOST III project list. It consists of Continued on Page 3 the henry county update

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County & City Officials Learn about Crisis Leadership During Emergency Management Seminar Hampton, Locust Grove, McDonough and Stockbridge, as well as County and City Managers and department heads, and a representative from the Board of Education attended the highly informative session.

“I was real impressed with the amount of people that we had to participate in the class. We had a lot of city people and county people, and that’s what it takes. It takes all of us working together as a team,” explained District 3 Commissioner Gary Barham following the class. “I think it is very important that we do these kinds of classes.”

Topics covered include how to plan for an effective disaster response, leadership and decision making during a crisis, recognizing the extraordinary, improvising the necessary response, maintaining scalability, and developing a jurisdiction preparedness action plan. The importance of building and strengthening relationships across jurisdictions in advance of a crisis was also a major focus for the group.

While each was important, Commissioner Barham said the segment about improvising during a crisis was the most informative.

The Henry County Emergency Management Agency “One of the most important things is that you can hosted a Crisis Leadership Decision Making seminar for plan, but you can’t plan, because every situation is always county and city elected officials on May 29, 2013. going to be different than the way you planned it. But by Using a case study on Hurricane Katrina as the guide, doing the planning sessions that Don had, it prepares us in the four hour workshop was designed to assist senior the future and it prepares us mentally and physically, so I government officials in thinking through their basic functions think it’s good.” and moral responsibilities as elected leaders in advance of The class was taught by representatives from the an emergency, rather than addressing their obligations for National Emergency Response & Rescue Training Center the first time in the midst of a crisis. through the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service.

Thirty-four people, including senior elected and public safety officials from Henry County, the cities of

The Veterans Wall of Honor & Boy Scout Troop 61 will host a flag burning ceremony on June 14th at 7pm.

Worn flags may be dropped off at the Veterans Historical Museum at Heritage Park. w w w. h e n r y c o u n t y - g a . o r g

FAIRVIEW From Page 1 widening to four lanes 1.85 miles of roadway from Anvil Block Road to just beyond what is now the newly realigned West Panola and Fairview intersection, the installation of eight foot wide, multi-use paths on both sides of the road, decorative stamped concrete crosswalks, mast arm signal poles, decorative lighting and enhanced landscaping.

Also breaking ground that day will be the Fairview Medical Center by Nidus Development, a critical first healthcare foray into northern Henry County, which has been historically underserved by the medical community.

This facility by Nidus Development is the first phase of a major mixed-use campus planned for the area to include an upscale, village concept retail component. The project is currently in the planning, design and site development phase. According to Nidus Development, preliminary plans call for approximately 88,000 square feet of medical office space and 80,000 square feet of retail space, with opportunity for additional development. The campus will feature a park-like setting with splash fountains, green spaces, and walking trails. Upon completion, the Fairview Medical Center is projected to employ over 1,300 persons directly and indirectly, with an estimated $185 million economic impact.

The public is invited to attend the celebration, which will be held Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 10 a.m. on a parcel of land at the intersection of West Panola and Fairview Roads. Light refreshments will be served following the ceremony.

A Few Opportunities Remain to Submit Ideas for Proposed SPLOST IV Program The SPLOST Committee will soon be wrapping up its weekly meetings to hear public input and suggestions for capital and transportation projects to include in the proposed SPLOST IV program. However there are a few opportunities left for citizens to come and share their ideas for the penny sales tax program: • 6/13 6:00pm McDonough City Hall; District 3 • 6/17 4:30pm Henry County Admin. Bldg.

(Conference Room B) • 6/20 6:00pm Henry County Admin. Bldg.

(Community Room) Over the course of these meetings, the SPLOST IV Committee has been working with County staff to formulate a list of projects. The June 17 meeting was recently added to the Committee’s schedule as a workshop to begin finalizing the list to recommend to the Henry County Board of Commissioners to put on a proposed SPLOST IV ballot initiative. The referendum will go before voters in November. If approved, the SPLOST IV program would continue the penny sales tax for another six years. An estimate of the potential revenue a SPLOST IV program would bring in has not been determined.

For more information about the SPLOST IV Committee and its meetings, please visit www.henrycountyga.org/splost.

HENRY COUNTY D.O.T ROAD RESURFACING SCHEDULE For the week of June 17, 2013 Fox Run Lane and Fox Run Court will be resurfaced.* *Weather permitting.

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Community Safety Day Set for June 22 The public is invited to the TC Carter Safety Day to be held on Saturday, June 22 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. behind the Henry County Judicial Center at the parking deck in McDonough.

The Community Safety day is in honor of TC Carter, the porter whose heroic efforts saved many lives after the Camp Creek Train Wreck of 1900. Hosted by the McDonough Main Street Program and jointly sponsored by Henry County District III Commissioner Gary Barham and McDonough District II Councilwoman Sandra Vincent, the safety day will feature displays and demonstrations by Henry County and McDonough public safety agencies and a model train exhibit and free ID kits from the Middle Georgia Railroad Model Club, as well as information from various safety organizations and vendors.

Adults and children will learn about safety around power lines and trains, as well as fire safety and much more.

Scheduled participants for this free event include American Family Insurance, Atlanta Trek, Georgia Power, the Henry County Fire Department, the Henry County Health Department, the Henry County Sheriff Office, the Henry County Emergency Management Agency (911), Hot Shots Paintball/Invert Skateboard, the McDonough Fire Department, the McDonough Police Department and Train Safety-Operation Lifesaver.

For more information, visit www.mainstreetmcdonough.com.

Ladies Kickball League Coming to Fairview Remember to when summer nights meant kickball games with friends until the streetlights came on? Well, summer fun on the kickball field isn’t just for children anymore, as Commissioner Bruce Holmes Athletic Association and Henry County Parks & Recreation welcome the 2013 Sweet Lady Kickers Summer Kickball League to Henry County, for adult women between the ages of 21 and 50.

Registration for the Sweet Lady Kickers will be held at Hidden Valley Park on Mondays, June 3, 10, 17 and 24 from 6-8 p.m. and on Saturdays, June 1, 8, 15 and 22 from 1-3 p.m. The ten-week season begins Saturday, August 3 and runs through September 28, with games played on Saturdays between 4 and 6 p.m., and playoffs in October.

All games will be held at Hidden Valley Park located at 100 Spraggins Memorial Parkway in Stockbridge. The fee to register is $115, but space is limited. To enjoy a season of fun and fitness, call 678.732.5688 for more information.

FINNEGAN • Dachshund Mix I am a sweet and loving soul that needs a lifetime companion to give me the home that I deserve. I was picked up as a stray, so my friends here at the shelter do not know anything about my past. If you would like to meet me, then please call my friends at (770) 288-PETS. My I.D. #5/21-1256 please refer to this number when inquiring about me. Lost and stray animals are held at the Henry County Animal Care and Control Shelter for four (4) calendar days (excluding Sundays and county holidays) in order to give their owners a chance to reclaim them. After that time period, adoptable animals are held as long as space allows.

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Connecting Henry Graduates First Class of STRIVE Program

Lilian was the first to cross the stage and receive her certificate for successfully completing Connecting Henry's STRIVE program.

Early last month, Connecting Henry launched an innovative new program, called STRIVE, to help residents break the cycle of joblessness. Candidates were carefully screened and then invited to participate in the program that helped ready them for a success in a job or further schooling.

STRIVE is a month-long, intensive training program that provides workforce development to individuals who either have had difficulty finding and/or keeping a job because of lack of experience or a lack of applicable skill sets to succeed in a work environment.

On May 24, thirty-two people became the first graduating class of the Henry County STRIVE program, and marked the occasion with a graduation ceremony complete with cap and gown. Family, friends and community leaders attended the graduation ceremony to celebrate the success of these graduates that will lead them down new paths to brighter futures.

There was applause and laughter, along with tears of joy, as one by one, the graduates received their diplomas and addressed their classmates and attendees from the stage.

Each began by expressing heartfelt thanks to the staff of New

Hope Enterprises and Connecting Henry for bringing the STRIVE program to Henry County.

“I sincerely want everyone to know this is a terrific program. I gained confidence and friendships, and we will be doing something for the community where we live. I will make you proud and I will ‘toot your horn’ about this great program,” said Kathryn, a graduate.

“STRIVE gave me my passion back, and that’s beyond a job. It gave me purpose and a destiny,” said Joanna.

“I went to the Connecting Henry office for another issue where Miss Shon told me about STRIVE. Now I have confidence, direction and a place to be. I have a path that I want to do,” said Wendy. “I had a job interview yesterday and I held my head up knowing I can do this.”

“Thank you for the privilege. I have been out of work for 10 years. Now I am ready to go back and achieve what I want to achieve,” said Winston.

According to Daryl Dotschay, Director of Connecting Henry, the workforce development program assisted participants to identify what was holding them back and enable them to develop the skills and confidence to succeed Continued on Page 6 5

STRIVE From Page 5 in either an employment setting or in furthering their education, and that the end goal was really not to just complete the program, but to change lives.

To reach the point of graduation, participants took part in a four-week, intensive program where they learned not only job skills, but interpersonal skills to learn conflict resolution and goal setting. They were able to identify the barriers that had been holding them back and learned how to eliminate them. Dotschay said that 184 people made appointments and out of that number, 61 showed up for the appointment. After an evaluation, 45 were invited to participate, with 37 starting and 32 actually making it through the program.

Rafael Agosto, the lead trainer and a STRIVE success story, who graduated 21 years ago from the program in New York after three attempts, spoke about the transformation he saw in the students.

“The difference in demeanor is amazing,” he told the graduates. “You’ve already started an amazing process.

STRIVE has already given you tools to be the one the employer chooses.”

“Now comes the hard part. These tools mean nothing

if you don’t use them,” said Walter Evans, STRIVE trainer and former program graduate. “We were created to do something special and it’s up to you to achieve it.”

The STRIVE program is based on a model that New Hope Enterprises, Inc. out of Atlanta has been successfully using for several years. Dotschay said he was very satisfied with the partnership and the two groups are already looking to formalize plans for a second STRIVE class.

“It was a seamless partnership and we had like vision and worked hand in hand to make this a success,” said Dotschay. “We plan on following these graduates and help them get jobs and already have 121 on a waiting list for the next class.”

Connecting Henry is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing programs which strengthen families in Henry County by focusing on educational needs and workforce development. Organizers are also looking for companies and employers who are interested in learning more. For more information or to apply to the STRIVE program, please contact Connecting Henry at 770.288.6230.

Focus on Transportation Projects Special guests include Bert Brantley, Deputy Executive Director for the State Road & Tollway Authority, McDonough Councilwoman Sandra Vincent, Roque Romero, Henry County SPLOST Transportation Director and Terry McMickle, Henry County Public Works Division Director.

June 22, 2013 • 9am Cross Road Christian Church 5365 North Henry Blvd. in Stockbridge

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The Henry County Board of Commissioners, together with the Henry County Extension, honored Glenda Garris for 10 years of service as a Certified Master Gardener at the June 4 Commission meeting.

After retiring from Bellsouth in 2002, Glenda Garris became a Certified Master Gardener Extension Volunteer. She was inspired while attending a lecture on Community Gardens to found Community Gardens of Henry County, a non-profit organization to serve the residents of Henry County.

She is responsible for developing each of the following gardens and continues to oversee them throughout the year, managing all fundraising and planting for these gardens: • 2004 with the partnership of the Henry County Board of Commissioners, she founded the Community Garden in Heritage park for seniors, a garden known throughout the state.

• 2004 Hooten Street garden in conjunction with the McDonough Housing Authority • 2005 Cubihatcha Garden was founded with the support of the Henry County Water Authority • 2008 The Windy Hill Community garden was founded as a family garden

• 2010 The Lewis Street and Wesley Way Helping Harvest Gardens were founded.

100% of the harvests from the Hhelping Harvest Gardens are donated to help feed the hungry in Henry County, producing more than 45,000 pounds of produce to date.

In 2006 she became president of the Henry County Master Gardeners. She was responsible for the formation of the Master Gardener’s “Garden Tour”, a semiannual fundraiser. She was also named “Citizen of the Year by the Henry County Chamber of Commerce for her service to the community. In 2009, she was named Master Gardener of the year.

She has now completed 10 years of service as a certified Master Gardener Extension Volunteer in Henry County and the Board of Commissioners would like to join the County Extension in recognizing Glenda Garris for her service as a Lifetime Master Gardener Extension Volunteer.

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