TASTE OF TOCCOA ON SATURDAY

“A Taste of Toccoa” will be held in downtown May 2, from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm. It is the 25th year for this family friendly event which has become a tradition for many.

From 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. area restaurants and caterers will be serving sample-sized portions of their most popular dishes or introducing new menu items. There will be 18 restaurants participating this year. They are: Shirley’s Sole Food, X Factor Grill, Domino’s Pizza, Just Right Catering, Applebee’s, Mike’s Original Subs, McDonald’s, Ferb’s, Victoria’s Sweet Treats, Dairy Queen, Dazzling Sweet Treats, Sweetly Southern, Willy’s Wings, Meat’n the Middle, Threads, Bobbers and Burgers at the Rebel,and Bojangles. The Farmer’s Market will also be there to sell fresh produce.

New to Taste this year will be the 4^th Annual City of Toccoa Car Show and Cruise Relay for Life Benefit. Located on Doyle Street from Sage Street to Alexander Street, the show will start at 9:00 am and run through 2:00 pm. Registration is from 9:00 am through 11:00 am with judging beginning at 11:00 am. Twenty-seven specialty plaques will be awarded. Awards will be given out at 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm. Entry fee is $20 per car. For more information, call Dale Simpson at 706-599-2313.

The Currahee Artist Guild will have their Spring Art and Crafts Show on Doyle Street in front of the Studio from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Local artist will show their work inside the Studio as well as outside in the street and in the breezeway. Awards will be given at the end of the show.

Entertainment will begin at 11:00 a.m. at the stage on Sage Street and will include the following:

11:00 am – 12:00 – Precious Minutes Martial Arts

12:00-1:00 pm – Rhythm Academy

1:00pm - 2:00pm – Ryan Stinson

Activities for the children will be at Pond Street and Doyle Street.

Eight awards are given to the participating restaurants in several different categories; Most Authentic Representation of Business, the Extra Mile Award, the Taste Award for Desserts, the Taste Award for a Menu Item, and the top three restaurants for the Most Tokens Collected. Again this year there will be the People’s Choice Award.  Festival attendees can vote for their favorite restaurant and for their favorite menu item. The voting will take place at the WNEG Radio tent.  Ballots will be available for everyone to vote.

Tokens can be pre-bought at the following businesses: 1^st Franklin Financial, First Citizens Bank, CK Morgan, Troup’s, and the Toccoa Main Street office.

Doyle Street, Pond Street, and Sage Street will be closed from 12:00 midnight – 3:00 p.m. Parking will still be available in the parking lots on Tugalo Street and Foreacre Street.

Toccoa Celebrates National Train Day

For the sixth year, the City of Toccoa will celebrate National Train Day on May 9, 2015 with a special event at the historic train depot in downtown Toccoa. City officials and citizens will welcome the train as it stops in Toccoa on its way to Atlanta at 6:15 a.m.  AM630 WNEG Radio will broadcast live. A drawing for several prizes will be held at the event. Enter to win at these locations: Ionosphere Travel, WNEG Radio, and the Chamber of Commerce.

National Train Day will include several activities this year. Some of the activities will include: the drawing for prizes, welcoming the train at 6:15 AM, and refreshments at 6:30-7:00 AM. 

Georgia Cities Week Celebration

The City of Toccoa will host a special week of events to celebrate Georgia Cities Week sponsored by the Georgia Municipal Association. This year’s theme is “Destination Downtown.” Georgia Cities Week is an opportunity to showcase and celebrate cities and the services they provide. Something special is planned for almost every day in Toccoa.

April 20 – Walk through downtown Toccoa with members of the Historic Preservation Committee and learn about some of the city’s beautiful historic buildings. The tour will begin at the Historic Depot at 4:00.

April 21 – Get healthy! Run or walk the downtown walking loop with our city manager and some of our city commissioners. The walk with start at 4:00 p.m. at the Depot.

There will be a special event for those serving on the cities volunteer committees beginning at 6:00 in the Mitchell Allen Room of the Currahee Military Museum.

April 22 – City Hall Open House - Everyone is invited to come to City Hall and meet their commissioners and the city’s department heads or take a tour of city hall and learn what each of the departments do for the city. Commission Room will be open from 12 – 2 p.m.

Touch a Truck – Children are invited to come and touch and climb on some of the city vehicles. Trucks will be set up in the First Citizens Bank parking lot on the corner of Doyle Street and Broad Street.

April 24 – The movie “Get on Up” will be shown at the Schaefer Center at 7:00 p.m. “Get on Up” is the story of James Brown, “the Godfather of Soul” who got his start in music with the Famous Flames here in Toccoa. Tickets are $1 and will be sold at the door. Doors will open at 6:00.

For more information about any of the events, please call Sharon Crosby at 706-282-3309.

A Taste of Toccoa

Mark your calendar for the 25^th  annual “A Taste of Toccoa” on May 2 from 11:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. held in Historic Downtown. One of Toccoa’s premier events will look different for its 25th year. You can still enjoy dinner downtown when you sample a variety of entrees from local restaurants and caterers but it will be held on a Saturday instead of a Thursday evening. Included this year will be the Currahee Artist Guild’s Art Show and the City of Toccoa classic car show. 

Each year local restaurants and caterers show off their specialty menu items in smaller portions so everyone can have a “little of something” or go back and enjoy another portion of their favorite. Applications are still being accepted from restaurants and caterers. For more information or for an application, call Sharon Crosby at 706-282-3309.

Teen and children can enjoy many other activities.  Entertainment will include the following: 11:00 – 12:00 – Precious Minutes Martial Arts

12:00-1:00 – Rhythm Acadamy

1:00-2:00 – Ryan Stinson

Ryan Anthony Stinson is a 25-year-old pianist and keyboardist that has been playing for over 15 years and performing for more than 9 years.  He is a recipient of the Pearl and Floyd Franks Music Scholarship, awarded through the Share America Foundation.  For several years Ryan has been a regular performer at the Ringgold Opry located at the historic railroad Depot in Ringgold, Georgia and the Mountain Opry located atop Signal Mountain in Tennessee. He also appears periodically as a guest at the Tribute Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Over the years he has performed at many various community events and on local radio programs.  Playing by ear, Ryan enjoys performing a variety of musical genres such as:  Classic Country; Oldies from the 50s, 60s and 70s; Rock and Roll; Jazz and Gospel.    Ryan has performed alongside such Gospel greats as The Watkins Family, Randall Franks, Archie Watkins, Johnnie Sue, and The Testimony Quartet.  Ryan Stinson is a 25 year old pianist from Ringgold, GA but has many ties to Toccoa.  His mom, Jill Terrell Stinson, was born in Toccoa and his grandparents, Jimmy and Joyce Terrell, were born, raised and married in Toccoa.  Jimmy is a 1956 graduate of Toccoa High School and Joyce is a 1958 graduate of Stephens County High School.  Ryan’s great-grandparents, Clark and Sue Terrell and John and Elsie Ledford, were lifelong residents of Toccoa.

Those who enjoy shopping will want to explore the specialty, art, clothing, and antique shops downtown.

Each year eight awards are given to the participating restaurants in several different categories; Most Authentic Representation of Business, the Extra Mile Award, the Taste Award for Desserts, the Taste Award for a Menu Item, and the top three restaurants for the Most Tokens Collected. Again this year there will be the People’s Choice Award.  Festival attendees can vote for their favorite restaurant and for their favorite menu item. The voting will take place at the WNEG Radio tent.  Ballots will be available for everyone to vote.

“A Taste of Toccoa” is a great way to enjoy a wonderful spring day with good friends, good food, and good entertainment! For further information, contact the Main Street office at 706-282-3309 or toll free at 1-877-6-TOCCOA.

Janis Potter: America's Marimba Player

Main Street Toccoa, in partnership with the Piatigorsky Foundation, will host a concert Friday, April 17, 2015 at 7:00 PM featuring Janis Potter, world renowned marimba performer. The concert will be held at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts.

Janis Potter, one of America’s most in-demand solo marimba artists, is best known for her varied repertoire and energetic style.  Ms. Potter has more than 320 recitals and master-classes plus 30 concerto performances to her credit.  She has performed and lectured at more than 50 major universities in nearly every state in the U.S. and is currently planning her international marimba debut in Japan in 2013.  She has been presented at five Percussive Arts Society International Conventions, as well as many state and local PAS events, and has had several articles published in Percussive Notes Magazine.  Ms. Potter has won awards and grants from such prestigious organizations as the Sony Corporation, The Carnegie Foundation and The Myra Hess Foundation.  She has also been presented by renowned venues such as the Montpelier Cultural Arts Center, The Phillips Collection, The Library of Congress, and the Corcoran Gallery of Art.  Her recordings are often aired on National Public Radio and she has performed in several television specials for PBS.

Janis served five years with “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in Washington DC- having played percussion at the White House, the U.S. Capital, and many other venues including three national concert tours.  In addition, she was a featured soloist with the band at the College Band Director’s National Association Convention performing Thea Musgrave’s Journey Through a Japanese Landscape for marimba and wind ensemble, which is now available on a live recording from Marc Records.  She released her first solo CD entitled “Marimba Tracks” in 2000, and her second CD “Variations in Blue” in 2004.

Janis received her Bachelors and Masters degrees in music performance from The Juilliard School.  She is currently in the dissertation process of her Doctor of Education degree from North Central University.

For over 24 years, The Piatigorsky Foundation’s commitment to artistic excellence and public outreach has fascinated many avid concert goers as well as curious first-timers.  It is this combination of complimentary access, flamboyant performances, and human warmth that makes Piatigorsky Foundation concerts so appealing to diverse audiences.  Last season, the Foundation presented a mini-tour of 4 concerts in Georgia reaching over 175 people in Newnan, Hartwell, and Toccoa.   Likewise, this year The Piatigorsky Foundation aims to reach hundreds of people across Georgia to increase awareness and appreciation of classical music in communities throughout the state.  Evan Drachman established The Piatigorsky Foundation in 1990 in honor of his grandfather Gregor Piatigorsky.  Piatigorsky deeply believed in the healing and inspiration power of classical music.  He once said, “Music makes life better.  Music is a necessity.  It is rich.  It is imaginative.  It is magnificent.  And it is for everyone.”  The Piatigorsky Foundation is committed to carrying on Piatigorsky’s mission by evoking cultural curiosity through educational and accessible live performances.

The concert will be at 7:00 p.m. Admission is $5.00.