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September 2013

The 81st Annual North Georgia State Fair

The 81st Annual Superior Plumbing North Georgia State Fair will take place Thursday, September 19th, through Sunday, September 29th, at Jim R. Miller Park in Marietta. Attracting nearly 300,000 people from throughout metro Atlanta, North Georgia and surrounding states, the Superior Plumbing North Georgia State Fair is the largest fair in metro Atlanta and the second largest in Georgia. Once again, exciting concerts are scheduled for The Georgia Lottery Concert Series. Scheduled entertainers who will perform in the covered arena include:

• Phillips, Craig and Dean on Friday, September 20th
• Lauren Alaina on Saturday, September 21st
• Lee Brice on Wednesday, September 25th
• Loretta Lynn on Thursday, September 26th
• Colt Ford on Friday, September 27th
• Jerrod Niemann on Saturday, September 28th

All concerts begin at 8:00pm and admission is free with your fair admission.

New for 2013 is the Georgia Mountain Lift, the longest lift in Georgia, spanning more than 2,000 feet. Patrons can ride from one end of the fairgrounds to the other as more than 130 cars take you above all the action of the fair and the James H. Drew Carnival Midway. New Live shows that are free with paid admission include: Sea Lion Splash!, The Tiger Encounter with Teen Tiger Mom, Felicia Frisco, and the Rowdy Rooster Puppet Show. All-time favorite shows and attractions returning again this year include: Horses, Horses, Horses!, Brian Ruth “Master of the Chainsaw”, and Wit Carson’s Petting Zoo.

Advance tickets can be purchased for $5.00 for adults, and $11.00 for a book of 21 ride tickets - nearly 50% off. There is a $1.00 fee for postage and handling. Advance tickets are on sale at www.northgeorgiastatefair.com. Regular tickets can be purchased at the gate at $7.00 for adults, with children 10 and under free. Ride tickets are $1.25 each, $20.00 for 21 tickets, $50.00 for 55 tickets and 120 tickets for $100. Parking is $3.00. Discount tickets are available at all metro-Atlanta Walgreens stores through September 20th. Discount tickets are $3.50 for adult admission and $11.00 for 21 ride tickets. Specials during the fair include 'Unlimited Ride Specials' - $15.00 pay one price ride special on Monday, September 23rd, $18.00 pay one price ride special on Thursday, September 19th (opening day), Tuesday, September 24th and Wednesday, September 25th; $25.00 pay one price ride special on Saturdays, September 21st and 28th from 11:00am-3:00pm (good till close). For more information, visit www.northgeorgiastatefair.com or facebook.com/thenorthgeorgiastatefair.

Georgia Return to Play Act of 2013

The Georgia Legislature has approved House Bill 48, which shall be known as “Georgia Return to Play Act of 2013.” Effective January 1, 2014, organizations that offer youth athletic programs in Cobb County Parks will be required to educate youth athletes and their parents to understand the dangers of concussions in sports competitions and to be able to recognize when an athlete may have sustained a concussion. To better define the requirements of this law, each organization must make preparations to be in compliance with this bill. Organizations must do the following:

• Concussion educational information must be provided to all coaches and officials.
• Concussion educational information must be provided to all the athletes and their parents. The parent/legal guardian must sign an acknowledgement of receipt and the organization must keep this on file throughout the season.
• Steps 1 & 2 must be completed prior to the athlete beginning any athletic activity in the program.
• It is strongly encouraged that all coaches and officials of a youth activity complete an annual concussion recognition education course.

The Georgia Department of Public Health is referring everyone to the "Heads Up - Concussion in Youth Sports" program offered by the CDC. On this site, the following information is being provided to comply with the bill:

• Parent/athlete information sheets in english and spanish
• Program posters to have at your facilities
• On-line training program for coaches/officials
• Coach’s clipboard sheets

Cobb County Parks, Recreation, & Cultural Affairs will have all the information posted on their website and strongly encourages everyone who has a child participating in youth sports to complete the on-line training course. The program takes about 45 minutes and provides a comprehensive look at recognizing the signs and symptoms a child will display when sustaining a concussion. A link to the program on the CDC website can be found here: CDC - Concussion Program.

The Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that as many as 3.9 million sports-related and recreation-related concussions occur in the United States each year. Concussions in sports are a serious issue with long-term risks and complications if not treated properly. Always remember “When in doubt, sit them out”. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of a concussion is the key factor as to whether a child should return to play, and the training program provides valuable information to assure the athlete is ready to enter back into the game safely.

2013 'Fun in the Park' Photo Contest
As you are out enjoying Cobb County Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs' parks and activities, be sure to bring your camera and capture the fun and memories of your sports activities, the beauty of nature and wildlife in the parks, and anything else that shows why you enjoy your day at the park. The 9th Annual "Fun in the Park' Photo Contest will be accepting entries throughout the summer. Enter up to 10 of your best shots for fun and awards! Open to all photographers. Digital and print photos accepted. See rules and download entry form below at the photo contest web page.

Bird 'n Butterfly-a-thon at Leone Hall Price Park

New Tennis Program for Adults

Cobb Tennis Centers and USTA-Atlanta are teaming up to provide a new program for beginner adults to learn how to play tennis. Sponsored by USTA-Atlanta, the 'Tennis Apprentice' program will provide instruction to teach beginner adults to play tennis and work towards the goal of competing in beginner USTA leagues. Starting the weeks of September 9th and October 28th, students will take 6 weeks of instruction and then be signed up for winter season USTA leagues. Teams will consist of your fellow program members and you will compete against other area 'Tennis Apprentice' program members. Students enrolled in the program will receive a free tennis racket and free USTA membership! All this for the introductory-to-tennis fee of $50 for the six weeks of instruction. For information, contact your closest Cobb Tennis Center.

SPLOST Projects Update
On March 15, 2011, a referendum on a four-year SPLOST (Special Local Option Sales Tax) was approved by voters. This program will be in effect from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2015. From this SPLOST, Cobb County Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs will be utilizing $82,023,000 for revitalization, facility renovations and upgrades to parks and facilities. Planning, coordinating and scheduling projects are in their early stages, but you will now be able to see some of the work in progress or soon to begin. Here is a list of current projects:

These are just a few of the numerous projects that you will see in the next few years updating and revitalizing our parks' system. For a complete listing of projects and updates, see the Splost 2011 web page on the Cobb County website.

Endurance Mountain Bike Race to be Held at Allatoona Creek

On September 21st, PTS Sports and Cobb County Parks, Recreation and Cultrual Affairs present the inaugural “Up the Creek Endurance Mountain Bike Race” on the fast-flowing, single-track trails of Allatoona Creek. This 6-hour endurance event is sure to pose a challenge to both novice and expert cyclists alike. Large open fields give way to forest as the trail converges on Lake Allatoona, providing a picturesque backdrop for what is sure to be one of Northwest Georgia’s top cycling events. Allatoona Creek trails consists of 15 miles of well-maintained bike trails that are second to none. For information, see the event website at ptssports.com/events/up-the-creek-mtb.

Free Native Plants Offered at Heritage Park
On Saturday, September 14th, from 10:00am-12:00pm, the 'Georgia Native Plant Society' will be giving away free native plants. They would like to say "Thank You!" to all of the trail-goers who have helped us in removing tagged non-native plants from the park. Your very noticeable efforts are making way for a come-back of our native plants, on which our native insects, wildlife, and we depend upon. We invite everyone to stop by and pick up your free native plant and chat with our experts on master gardening, habitat restoration, and gardening for birds and butterflies. Heritage Park is located at 60 Fontaine Road in Mableton.

Tea Cups Wanted for Mable's Tea Room

Tea cups! Tea cups! Tea cups! The Mable House Arts Center is requesting your china tea cups and saucers (no mugs or plates please). Simply bring your unwanted china to the Mable House Arts Center and we will put them to good use in Mable’s Tea Room. We will accept donations until October 30th.