Marietta News for July, 2018

published July 13, 2018

DAVIS DIRECTION RECEIVES $125,000

WOW WOW WOW WHAT A DAY!! Chandler Riggs just dropped by to gift us 125K He won a charity competition playing video games (Davis is smiling) and picked Davis Direction Foundation to receive his winnings! You can’t make this stuff up! Chandler and his family have been major supporters of Davis Direction Foundation for a very long time. When I asked Chandler why he picked us, he said… “I’ve invested in the mission of the Davis Direction Foundation and more needs to be done to bring attention to the cause.” Chandler is my HERO!!! And I adore the rest of his family too. Thank you Chandler aka Carl from The Walking Dead!

So… it turns out that ALL of the hours he’s logged playing video games were for the greater good! Chandler competed in a charity Fortnite tournament Epic Games/ E3 Fortnite Pro-Am. He and his professional partner player placed 3rd in the contest won $125,000 for the charity of his choice!!!!!

SUN AUG 12 DAVIS DIRECTION AWARD BENEFIT AND SILENT AUCTION – The public is invited to attend the Charity Award Benefit and Silent Auction benefitting The David Direction Foundation will be held on Sunday, August 12 at 6:00 pm at the Marietta Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $25 and available through MPAC.MARIETTA-CITY.ORG, scroll down the home page.

Tim Milligan Is Marietta’s New Fire Chief

The City of Marietta is pleased to announce that Assistant Chief Tim Milligan has been selected to serve as the City’s new Fire Chief to succeed retired Fire Chief Jackie Gibbs who served 18 years in that position.

Chief Milligan has served the City of Marietta for the past 21 years. He joined the MFD in 1997 and during his tenure has worked in each division within the department. He has held various positions and served the last 3 years as the Fire Marshal for the City. He has earned numerous technical and professional certificates, as well as several degrees culminating with a Master’s in Business from Regis University.

He is very involved in the community, having participated in Leadership Cobb, co-chairing the class of 2017 and currently supports many local non-profits in varying capacities. For the last 6 years he has served as a board member on the State Firefighters Pension Board, a position appointed by Governor Nathan Deal.  He also is the current President of the Georgia Association of Public Pension Trustees.

STRAND EMBARKS ON $250,000 FUNDRAISING CHALLENGE

In June of 2018, Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre namesake Earl Smith pledged a matching donation challenge of $250,000 to help retire The Strand’s restoration debt. The theatre has accepted his challenge and is currently in the process of fundraising its own $250,000, which will need to be raised by the end of 2018 to claim Smith’s matching donation. The combined $500,000 will retire The Strand’s construction debt that was incurred when renovating the historic building in 2008.

“It’s a challenge grant, and the community has got to step up and do their part of it, and I’ll to my part to match $250,000,” Smith said in his announcement to the Marietta Daily Journal of the campaign. “It’s got to be done by the end of the year, and it’s up to the community.”
Mayor Steve Tumlin and former Mayor Bill Dunaway have joined in on the fundraising efforts, creating a “Mayor’s Challenge” and making it their personal mission to sell commemorative bricks and seats to help fundraising efforts in the “250 Grand for The Strand” campaign.

Members of the community have several ways to contribute to the “250 Grand for The Strand” campaign to retire the historic theatre’s debt. Commemorative bricks under The Strand marquee can be purchased for $250 for a 4×8 brick and $1,500 for a 8×8 paver; a classic theatre seat inside the art deco auditorium can be personalized with a custom plaque for $1,000; donors can become a Patron Pearl for $5,000 (paid annually over 5 years) and get exclusive perks like opening night receptions, complimentary tickets, and private cocktail hours; donors can also make sustaining or one time donations for any amount or any length of time. All donations are tax deductible.

Earl and Rachel Smith were the champions of the Save The Strand effort of the early 2000s, leading the charge in the Friends of The Strand renovation. The Smiths were and are instrumental in making the dream of The Strand as it is known today a reality. The theatre is named in their honor.

Georgia Knight of the Year 2017-2018

Congratulations to Dick Lanyi of Knights of Columbus St. Joseph Council 4599 of Marietta who was named by the Georgia Knights of Columbus as their Knight of the Year. Joined by his family Mr. Lanyi was honored at the Georgia Knights of Columbus Convention in Savannah, GA on Saturday May 19, 2018. Mr. Lanyi’s was cited for his twenty five years of dededication to charity and service. Dick Lanyi is pictured on the right.

 

 

Perfect ACT Score
MHS Rising Senior Achieves Perfect ACT Score 
On average, only one-tenth of 1 percent of students who take the ACT earn a top score.

In the U.S. high school graduating class of 2017, only 2,760 students out of more than 2 million graduates who took the ACT achievement exam, earned a composite score of 36. Andy Chinuntdet, a rising senior at Marietta High School, joins this unique group of high achievers for 2018. Andy has earned the highest possible ACT composite score of 36 on his first attempt at the exam. According to American College Testing, Inc., “On average, only about one-tenth of 1 percent of students who take the ACT earn a top score.”

A 4.5 GPA student, Andy says he was excited when he received his score, but knows it’s only one step towards his dream of studying aerospace engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) or Georgia Tech.

“I’m hoping that my score improves my chances of attending MIT or Georgia Tech for a degree in Aerospace Engineering, getting me one step closer to my dream of working for SpaceX or NASA after college,” shared Andy.

Andy’s parents, Nick and Amber Chinuntdet said they were expecting him to do well, but earning the top score is amazing.  
“We are very proud, and we’re excited about what it could mean for his future,” said Amber.  Andy believes the rigorous AP and IB curriculum courses he has taken at MHS, along with college prep courses, helped prepare him for the exam – but would stress to his peers to, just be relaxed and confident in yourself when taking the test.

UPCOMING EVENTS

SAT JULY 21 Pop-In at the Marietta Museum of History: Summer Crafts – 10:30am-3:30pm
Beat the heat with a fun day at the Museum. July’s Pop-In theme will be “Summer Crafts”- a perfect way to wrap up the last couple weeks of summer. Summer themed crafts will be set up throughout the Museum to provide children and their families a new way to interact with the Museum. 
The Marietta Museum of History is located at 1 Depot Street, Marietta, GA 30060. 
Admission to the Museum during the Pop-In will be $5 per person with a family cap of $20!
The Museum uses ordinary objects to tell the extraordinary stories of Marietta and Cobb County. To find out more, call 770-794-5710 or visit www.MariettaHistory.org.

FRI JULY 27 GLOVER PARK CONCERT 8:00 PM featuring Carolina Beach Music by GRAINS OF SAND. The concerts are free of charge but if you’re looking for a “front-row seat,” a limited number of tables can be reserved — $45 for tables of six and $55 for tables for eight. Tables reservations are taken on a first come basis and may be reserved the first working day of each month. Blankets and lawn chairs May be set up in park anytime. Personal tables and plastic ground coverings are Not allowed in park. Personal tables: may be set up on North Park Square after 5:30 p.m. Eat dinner and watch the show Bring a picnic dinner (beer and wine are permitted) Eat in one of the restaurants on Square.

SAT & SUN, JULY 28/29 Collectible Glass Show and Sale
Cobb County Civic Center. Come-Shop-Learn from 28 national exhibitors who display American made glass from the 20th century: kitchenware, table settings, decorative ware, elegant and depression glass, china, pottery, rare and hard to find items for your collection, or a piece to give as a gift or use in your home.  July 28 from 10 to 5 and July 29 from 10 to 4.  Admission $8 good for 2 days. Show features a club display, 4 free seminars (3 on Sat. & 1 on Sun), glass ID by knowledgeable club members (limited to 3 pieces/person), glass repair by a professional repairman, and door prizes. For more info: www.PSDGC.com or showchair@psdgc.com

SAT JULY 28 DEPARTURE: The Journey Tribute Band: 8:00 pm at the Strand Theatre. Performing over one-hundred shows annually, Departure brings the very best of Journey to audiences of all ages. So don’t stop believin’ in lovin’, touchin’, and squeezin’ your sweetheart, and celebrate the coming spring to the rocking sounds of DEPARTURE: The Journey Tribute Band this July

SAT AUG 4 O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU CONCERT at the Strand 8:00 pm. Join us for a special Strand Ole Opry this April as we return to our roots and take on the music of O Brother, Where Art Thou! Featuring the songs from the Coen Brother’s hit movie, this concert will transport patrons to the old south with beautiful vocals and live band accompaniment. Tickets online at www.earlsmithstrand.org.

SUN AUG 12 DAVIS DIRECTION AWARD BENEFIT AND SILENT AUCTION – The public is invited to attend the Charity Award Benefit and Silent Auction benefitting The David Direction Foundation will be held on Sunday, August 12 at 6:00 pm at the Marietta Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $25 and available through MPAC.MARIETTA-CITY.ORG, scroll down the home page.