Anne Ortiz

Keep these upcoming dates in mind to participate in important recycling and charitable donation programs. Thanks to Cobb County for it's leadership in these areas!

Keep Cobb Beautiful Electronics Day and Shoe Drive Saturday, Nov. 14 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Jim R. Miller Park - 2245 Callaway Road Marietta, GA 30008 Piedmont Church - 570 Piedmont Road Marietta, GA 30066

Televisions will be accepted for $10 each.

What can and cannot be recycled?

This year in addition to accepting your electronics, Keep Cobb Beautiful will be partnering with Soles4Souls to collect new or gently worn shoes.

Please bring your shoes, taped or tied together to the drop off collection boxes.

Soles4Souls is a Nashville-based charity that collects shoes from the warehouses of footwear companies and the closets of people like you. The charity distributes these shoes free of charge to people in need, regardless of race, religion, class, or any other criteria. Since 2005, Soles4Souls has given away more than 5.5 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes (currently donating one pair every 9 seconds.) The shoes have been distributed to people in more than 125 countries, including Kenya, Thailand, Nepal and the United States.

Did You Know?

About Curbside Recycling

So you want to help the environment, do the right thing and start recycling at home. But you are not sure if your local trash hauler is really recycling what they pick up from your curb.

The official Code of Cobb County, under Solid Waste states; Sec. 102-65. Mandatory offer of recycling service.

(a) All collectors must offer to their residential customers the option of having their recyclable materials collected at least once a month. Recyclable materials to be collected shall include at a minimum the following items: newspaper and aluminum.

(b) All collectors must offer an appropriate container, bags or other type of receptacle for those residential customers opting for this recycling service. Any collector providing such a container, bags or other type of receptacle to any residential customer may charge a fee for such a container, bags or other type of receptacle.

(c) In no event shall any of the recyclable materials collected pursuant to this optional recycling service be disposed of in any landfill.

Be an educated consumer. When shopping for a residential hauler that includes recycling with your waste pick-up, ask these questions.

1. What recyclables do you accept?

The most commonly accepted recyclables are paper, plastic(1-7), aluminum, steel, glass, and cardboard.

2. Do I separate my trash from recyclable materials?

Trash and recyclables need to be separated. There are NO local transfer stations (the place where your hauler takes the collected trash.) that will pull recyclables from residential waste. You will need one waste container and one recyclable container. Most recyclables can be combined into one container, making it easier for you. This is called comingled or single stream recycling.

3. When you put your recyclables out to be picked up, they should be picked up by a separate truck or placed into a compartment on the truck separate from trash.

4. Where are my recyclables taken?

Recyclable materials (paper, plastic, aluminum, steel glass, cardboard) are taken to a MRF (materials recovery facility), where they are separated.

5. What if I witness a hauler dumping trash and recyclables together in the same pick-up? If you see that your hauler is mixing trash and recyclables together there is something you can do about it. This is a County Code violation, and you can call Code Enforcement at 770-528-2125. Remember to have the hauling company name (truck number if possible), location, date and time you saw the violation occur.

Remember, if you don't get the answers you want to hear, shop around! There are many competitive and reliable waste haulers, in service in Cobb County that do offer responsible curbside recycling options. Keep Cobb Beautiful thanks you for your efforts to improve our environment.

Please Support Diaper Day In Cobb

Founded by a concerned group of community leaders, the Cobb Diaper Day Committee hopes to raise awareness that, in tough economic times, securing the most basic needs---having diapers to care for infants and children-- is a challenge that low-income families regularly face. To learn more, email Barbara Hickey, committee chairman, at esatlanta@bellsouth.net .

Join us on Oct. 26 at 5:00 p.m. at Glover Park on the Marietta Square with your diapers.

Low-Income families face:

Food Stamps do not include hygiene products such as diapers.

Diapers are expensive.

Daycare centers require parents to provide their own diapers.

Diaper rash and crying lead to more stress in the home.

Local support agencies ( MUST and C.A.M.P.) can only dispense diapers 4-6 times a year per client.

Call 770-819-8818 for questions or pick-up

Little Things Often Make A Big Difference

Thanks to the organizers of these events as well as to the wonderful citizens of Cobb County who support them! Cobb County Georgia is a terrific place to live

Such a threatening disease, but such a wonderful and fun way to fund research for a cure. On Sunday October 4th, The American Cancer Society will sponsor the Get Tee'd Off at Breast Cancer Pink Ribbon Classic Preview Party. Hosted by the PGA Superstore in Kennesaw, the festivities will include a Silent and Live Auction, Putting and Sand Clinics, Complimentary Food and Beverages (of all types!) and FREE ADMISSION! The festivities will be emceed by Chuck Dowdle, Sports Director of WSB-TV, and will feature a special appearance by Golfer Whitney Wade.

The second leg of this terrific fundraiser is The American Cancer Society Pink Ribbon Classic Golf Tournament. Registration and breakfast will take place at 8:30 am on Monday October 5th at the Marietta City Club, with the Opening Ceremony to begin at 9:30. The honoree this year is Harveda Moon, and special guests are local radio personalities Vikki Locke and Kaedy Kiley. Following the tournament will be the 19th Hole Party at the Hilton Atlanta-Marietta Conference Center.

RSVP now to Amy Davis at amy.davis@cancer.org or 770-429-0089. Get your foursome together for a day of great fun. If golfing isn't your sport, come to the Preview Party, but please be generous and do your part to help save lives that are affected by this disease.

A fun family outing on a beautiful Fall day works wonders for the spirit. It's almost time for the annual North Georgia State Fair, so plan on joining in on the festivities.

Residents forced to tighten their belts as a result of the economy can look to the annual North Georgia State Fair for family fun that won't break the bank. After all, the fair which is celebrating its 77th year, began during the Great Depression.

The tradition of fun rides, concerts, food and attractions continues when the fair comes to Jim R. Miller Park, 2245 Callaway Road SW, in Marietta from Sept. 24 through Oct. 4. The fair attracts nearly 300,000 people from throughout metro Atlanta and north Georgia each year. It's considered the second largest fair in the state.

"The North Georgia State Fair is still the best value for the family entertainment dollar. Our concerts are free with admission, and we offer plenty of discount and ride specials that are all available on our Web site," said Tod Miller, fair manager.

New to the fair this year is the Skin & Bones Comedy Circus, a family circus variety show with clowns and animals.

Regular tickets can be purchased at the gate at $5 for adults; $2 for students ages 7 to 18; and free for children 6 and younger. Ride tickets are $1 each (all rides require more than one ticket); $20 for 22 tickets; and $50 for 55 tickets. Parking is $3.

Advance tickets can be purchased for $3.50 for adults; $1 for students ages 7 to 18; and $11 for a sheet of 22 ride tickets. There is a $1 fee for postage and handling. To order tickets by credit card, visit northgeorgiastatefair.com or send a check or money order to: North Georgia State Fair, P.O. Box 777, Kennesaw, GA 30156. Orders must be postmarked by Sept. 19.

The fair is open from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 4 p.m. to midnight Fridays; 10 a.m. to midnight Saturdays; and 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays.

If you find that Saturday has rolled around and left you without plans, come to the Taste of Kennesaw. As one on Cobb County Georgia's quiaint, historic towns, Kennesaw is providing food, entertainment, and a chance to support local charities.

The Kennesaw Business Association and the city of Kennesaw will co-host their second annual Taste of Kennesaw festival Saturday. The festival will feature food samples from more than 35 local restaurants, ranging from $0.50 to $4.00 per plate.

"It's a little money for a lot of food," said Bill Watson, who is secretary on the Kennesaw Business Association Board of Directors. "Last year, there were almost full plates of food for $2 or $3. Some of these restaurants just want you to get a taste of their food, and it's really great food so you can afford to taste a little bit of everything. There will also be live music all day, kids' activities, charity fundraisers and a 5K. There's something for everyone," Watson said.

The event will take place in downtown Kennesaw at Main Street and the Depot parking lot.

This year, the Great Locomotive Chase 5K Race and 1K Fun Run will precede the Taste of Kennesaw event. This will be the first year for the race, which will start at 8 a.m. at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History on Cherokee Street in downtown Kennesaw. Watson said the runners will take a path that starts downtown, go toward Moon Station and will end up in front of the museum. The entry fee is $20 per person, or $25 on the day of the race, and every registered runner will receive a T-shirt, along with free food and drink. All proceeds from the race will go to support the educational and outreach programs of the Southern Museum.

Local musician Scott Thompson will be playing acoustic covers from the beginning of the festival at 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. An awards ceremony for the food vendors will occur at 4 p.m. The Rockerz, a local classic rock and roll band, will take the stage at 8 p.m. as the last performers in the Kennesaw Summer Concert Series.

A wide variety of children's attractions will be set up throughout the day, including a rock wall, inflatable slides, bounces and a trackless train.

Watson said that they are expecting around 20,000 people to attend the event, a few more than last year's approximate 18,000 attendees. Donations and proceeds (other than those from the food vendors) will go to four local charities, including MUST Ministries, Jerry Worthan Community Christmas Fun, Shop with a Mustang and Shop with a Warrior.

Don't miss out on the fun and the opportunity to support worthy causes!

This story might be best reserved for printing at the end of next month, but it's too intriguing to wait that long. Who says that small towns are boring? With it's rich Civil War culture, Marietta, Georgia has many a tale to tell. The historic battlefields surrounding the town serve as the final resting place for soldiers who fought the battle for Atlanta.

The Kennesaw House on the Marietta Square has always had a rich history. Since it was built in 1845 as a cotton warehouse, the building has been a hotel, Civil War hospital and morgue, retail shop, office complex, and is now the home of the Marietta Museum of History. But a vast number of people and emotionally charged events have made their home in the 164-year-old building, and those legends bring a different kind of history to the Kennesaw House.

Michael Hendrix, Georgia coordinator/case manager with the Southern Paranormal & Anomaly Research Society, brought about a dozen fellow SPARS investigators from North Carolina, South Carolina and various parts of Georgia to the Kennesaw House a few weeks ago to conduct an in-depth paranormal investigation on the building.

"We had heard that there were some pretty neat ghost stories here, so we gained permission and brought the team out to find out for ourselves and hopefully find out what's going on," Hendrix said.

The Kennesaw House's ghost folkelore has been featured on CNN, The History Channel and PBS. Dan Cox, CEO and Founder of the Marietta Museum of History, said that he does not believe in ghosts, but has had a number of unusual experiences in the building.

The museum owner and former Marietta city councilman said that multiple photographs have been taken of what appear to be ghosts from an old television monitor that overlooked the elevator doors on the second floor. "I bought a cheap security system with a camera and one day I saw something on the monitor but didn't have a camera nearby, so the next time I saw something I grabbed my camera and took a picture of it. We've gotten pictures of a woman in what appears to be a full, Victorian-style dress, a little boy, and it's interesting that they're all in front of the elevator and facing the same way," Cox said.

The monitor has been changed, and Cox said there have been no ghost photographs in front of the 30-year-old elevator since.

Cox said that he has smelled cigar smoke before when no one was smoking, heard his name called twice, heard footsteps when no one else is in the building and has even seen the ghost of what the staff believes to be a Union soldier and doctor. "I was talking with my wife one afternoon and I just happened turn my head and saw a man in a black felt hat and cream colored coat that went about mid-calf standing right next to me. He seemed to be ignoring me, and he was gone so quick I couldn't tell you for sure but something about him told me he was a medical doctor," Cox said.

Dix Fletcher, one of the former owners of the Kennesaw House, had a nephew who was a Union soldier and doctor, and Cox said he and his staff believe the man he saw was the nephew, whom they call Dr. Wilder. "I'm not the only one who's seen him, though," Cox said. "One of my employees heard a noise when he was working late one time and opened his office door and went out into the hall to see if someone needed help. He said that a man in a cream coat and black hat walked right past him and disappeared, and from what he told me about how he looked, it sounds like the same person."

Cox also said that the elevator will leave the ground floor where it stays and go to the top floors, open its doors, and return to the ground floor when the building is closed and no one is riding the elevator. He also heard a loud tapping once when he was in his office speaking with two visitors. "It sounded like someone was climbing the stairs and was tapping their wedding band on the iron rail of the stairs in sync with their steps. I stepped out of the office four times to see who was there or what was going on, and each time I would go back in my office without having seen anything and it would start again," Cox said.

Hendrix said he and his team would use techonological devices as they explored the building in the dark to try to pick up voices on recorders that can't be explained and capture pictures on video and digital cameras.

SPARS is not the first group to explore the historic building, though; Cox said that several ghost hunting groups have investigated the Kennesaw House as he waited for them to finish into the early morning hours. "People read about the stories or see them on TV and want to come. I get a big kick out of meeting people from all over and am amazed with all the stuff they bring along," Cox said. "I've never felt ill, cold, or threatened. I don't try to provoke them or anything. Our ghosts, if that's what they are, are friendly and I'd like to keep them that way."

Mariettans love their history and they love their ghosts!