City of Atlanta Prepares to Launch “31 Days of Jazz”
Yesterday, Mayor Shirley Franklin joined the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs (DPRCA) to announce the return of 31 Days of Jazz - beginning May 1 - and its crowning event, the 30th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival.
“I am so delighted to announce that this is the 30th anniversary of the City of Atlanta Jazz Festival,” said Mayor Franklin during a news conference at the Atlanta Civic Center. “The 31 Days of Jazz and the Atlanta Jazz Festival is one of our greatest cultural traditions and truly captures the essence of this great city.”
Popular returning events during 31 Days of Jazz include Dinner and Jazz, Eclectic Jazz, Jazz Etc. and Nightlife. New this year is “A 30 Year Retrospective: The Atlanta Jazz Festival in Photographs” at the City Hall East Gallery from May 3 – 31.
The grand finale of 31 Days of Jazz is the 3-day Atlanta Jazz Festival, the largest free festival in the country. Held on Memorial Day weekend at Piedmont Park, 2007 festival headliners include the Herbie Hancock Quartet on Saturday, May 26; the Pete Escovedo Orchestra with Sheila E. on Sunday, May 27; and the Laws Family on Monday, May 28.
Additional festival highlights include the Future of Jazz stage, a showcase of Atlanta’s best and brightest musicians; the Digital Village; and the Reel Jazz Film Series, being shown in the Piedmont Park Education Tent.
For more information about the Atlanta Jazz Festival or to find the most updated schedule of performances and events, visit www.atlantafestivals.com
Mayor Shirley Franklin joins Camille Russell Love, director of the Office of Cultural Affairs, to announce the return of "31 Days of Jazz" and the 30th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival at a news conference at the Atlanta Civic Center. |
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New Baggage Carousels Open at World’s Busiest Airport
Just in time to accommodate spring break travel, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (HJAIA) unveiled four (4) new baggage carousels, making it easier than ever to retrieve luggage from the world’s busiest airport.
The new carrousels are in the North Terminal Baggage Claim area. HJAIA plans to open two (2) more baggage carousels in 2007. In addition to the two (2) international carousels, this makes a total of eight (8) carousels operating simultaneously.
The new carousels are part of HJAIA’s $6 billion capital improvement program to make the airport more efficient, cost-effective, functional and user-friendly. They will replace carousels that have been operating for 27 years. The new carousels will also feature digital information display systems that provide detailed, easy-to-read information.
“This is great news for anyone who has ever waited to retrieve baggage from the North Terminal baggage claim,” said Ben DeCosta, HJAIA General Manager.
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Public Invited to Participate in the Future of Fort McPherson
The McPherson Planning Local Redevelopment Authority (MPLRA) will host its second series of public outreach meetings regarding the reuse of the base from Tuesday, April 10 – Thursday, April 12 at venues throughout the city.
Fort McPherson, a 488-acre military facility in southwest Atlanta, is being closed under the Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC) of 2005. The MPLRA is a nonprofit corporation responsible for identifying local redevelopment opportunities and preparing the redevelopment plan for the U.S. Army to consider in the final transfer of installation property.
During the public outreach meetings, community members and key stakeholders can view and comment on early recommendations for the redevelopment, gleaned from the first series of community meetings held in March 2007. Early recommendations include establishing a commercial/retail complex, cultural district, employment center and mixed-income residential opportunities.
Additionally, MPLRA planners will be available to show images of the redevelopment, based on a composite from all recommendations. For a complete meeting schedule and history of Fort McPherson, please call 404.614.8318 or visit www.mcphersonredevelopment.com
This home is part of the national historic district located on the Fort McPherson base. The future of this home, and other facilities on the base, will be determined by the McPherson Land Reuse Planning Authority (MLRPA) and Atlanta stakeholders. |
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Watershed Management Co-op Program is a Win-Win for Atlanta
The Department of Watershed Management (DWM) cooperative program is a win-win situation for Georgia college students looking for real-world working experience, the City and its taxpayers.
Through the program, students receive invaluable experience in the areas of engineering, drinking water and wastewater treatment plant operations as well as management. “This co-op provides students with a clear vision of the skills they will need when they enter the workforce,” said John Griffin, executive director of the DWM Buried Assets Management Institute.
By working with colleges and universities, the City is strategically extending its workforce by employing smart young people who can work up to 40 hours per week while also attending school. Taxpayers also benefit because co-op students perform these jobs at a reasonable cost.
The DWM co-op program works with the career placement centers at Georgia Tech, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, DeVry University and others to identify candidates. Enrolled college students must have earned at least 60 credit hours in a degree program to participate.
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Video On Demand:
Mayor Helps Kick-Off Youth Summer Job Program |
Mayor Shirley Franklin joined the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency (AWDA) and Colgate-Palmolive to kick off the 14th annual summer jobs and career development program. The program – titled Preparing Our World through Education and Responsibility (P.O.W.E.R) – helps Atlanta Public Schools (APS) students in the Mayor’s Youth Program get a head start on job placement for the summer. Click here to go to the Video On Demand (VOD) webpage to watch the launch.
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Rave Reviews!
- The City of Atlanta congratulates the Southeast Division Champion Atlanta Thrashers hockey league for their first playoff run in franchise history! Last week, Atlanta Thrashers representatives and team mascot “Thrash” brought the beloved Stanley Cup, the most well-known championship trophy, to Atlanta City Hall on its national tour. The Thrashers first play-off game will be on Thursday, April 12, against the New York Rangers at Phillips Arena. For more information, visit www.atlantathrashers.com
Atlanta Thrashers representatives visit City Hall, with the Stanley Cup, as part of its first-ever Championship run. Pictured left to right: Stanley Cup representative, Mike Bolt; Atlanta City Councilmember Jim Maddox; Atlanta Deputy Chief of Staff, Joe Morris III; Atlanta City Councilmember Ivory Young, Jr.; and team mascot, “Thrash.” |
- The City of Atlanta Office of Recreation has received a $60,000 grant from the Governor’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council to implement a Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Learn-to-Swim program at the Adamsville Natatorium. The Learn-to-Swim program is modeled after the American Red Cross swimming program. The program aims to reach 1200 students, ages 16-17, in the Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) communities of Bowen Homes, Bankhead Courts and Hollywood Court. In addition to training, the grant will supply swim goggles, suits, buoys, life vests, gas/bus rental fees associated with transporting youth to and from the natatorium and tracking software. The program will run from now through February 15, 2008. For more information, call Janet Davis at 404.853.7242.
- This past weekend, the Atlanta Fire Rescue (AFR) department installed alarms and other fire safety equipment just in time for the cold snap as part of its monthly community outreach program, ASAP (Atlanta Smoke Alarm Program). Typically, there is a rise in accidental fires when the weather presents an acute cold snap. AFR partnered with the Georgia Force cheerleaders to visit over 100 Atlanta residents where they installed 28 alarms and 45 door hangers, which provide details about the smoke alarm program and are left on doors when people are not home. All equipment was provided and installed for free. In addition, AFR checked the working conditions of resident’s alarms and replaced batteries when necessary.
The Atlanta Fire Rescue (AFR) department partnered with Georgia Force cheerleaders last week for its community outreach program, ASAP (Atlanta Smoke Alarm Program). |
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Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities
- Take MARTA to the 70th Atlanta Dogwood Festival, Friday, April 13 - Sunday April 15 at Piedmont Park. MARTA will offer special shuttle service from the Arts Center rail station to Piedmont Park every 15 minutes on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.; and on Sunday from 11:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. Parking for less than 24 hours is free at all MARTA parking facilities. For more information, visit www.itsmarta.com
- The date for the BeltLine Quarterly Briefing has been changed to Tuesday, April 17 from 6-8 p.m. at the Atlanta City Hall Council Chambers, 55 Trinity Avenue, Atlanta, 30303. Hear the latest news on the BeltLine project including master planning activities, affordable workforce housing, citizen participation opportunities and the BeltLine Partnership Capital Campaign update. For more information, visit www.beltlinecommuntiy.comor call 404.614.8300.
- Join Mayor Shirley Franklin on Saturday, April 21 at 1:30 p.m. in Grant Park as she kicks off the City’s Greener Atlanta Initiative with the first-ever city-wide Earth Day celebration, Arms Around Atlanta. Arms Around Atlanta events will be held April 21 and 22 beginning with a clean-up of the BeltLine on April 21 from 8 a.m. – Noon. Other events include electronic waste and tire recycling at Turner Field, organic food tastings, eco-education and live entertainment. For more information about the Greener Atlanta Initiative, Arms Around Atlanta events or to volunteer, visit the City of Atlanta website at Greener Atlanta.
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Job Announcements
With the City of Atlanta’s online application system, you are able to create an account and select a Username and Password and then log in to your account.
After your account has been established, you can create an application by clicking on the “Build Job Application” link. Once your application is completed, it will be stored in the system and can be used to apply for future job openings. To get started by viewing current open positions, click here.
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Weekly Features
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