Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Festival of Trees Winner



News Release

Release: Immediate
Date: December 6, 2016
Contact: Sharon Crosby

Re: Festival of Trees Winner

TOCCOA, GA – December 6, 2016
– The ninth annual Festival of Trees was held on December 2 – 3 in the Historic Courthouse in downtown Toccoa. Nine trees were on display receiving a total of over 500 total votes. For $1 visitors were able to vote for their favorite tree. Businesses, non-profit organizations, and local citizens decorated the trees, many with themes that reflected their organization. Each group received the proceeds from their votes. In addition to the money received from the vote, the tree with the most votes won a $500 grand prize.

The groups participating this year were; Deborah’s Magic Mirror for Meals on Wheels, City of Toccoa for Stephens County 4 H Club, Stephens County Government for Open Arms Clinic, Toccoa Stephens County Chamber of Commerce for Neighbors 4 Neighbors, Toccoa Stephens County Literacy Council for the Literacy Council, First Alliance Church for the Salvation Army, 1st Franklin Financial for Reins for Life, Northeast Georgia Physicians Group for Power House for Kids, Toccoa Rotary Club for Coins for Alzheimer, and Valley Farm at Toccoa Falls College for Food 2 Kids.

The tree with the most votes over the two - day display was Valley Farm at Toccoa Falls College. The money will go to help the Food 2 Kids program in Stephens County. The program aims to bridge the weekly weekend hunger gap by providing free sacks of child friendly and child specific foods that are easy to open, nutritious, and do not require any cooking. The Food 2 Kids program provides approximately six meals and two snacks each weekend that school is in session (40 weeks) to previously identified school children

Although much of the food the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia receives is donated, the majority of food for the Food 2 Kids program is not. Purchase of the food for this program is required to ensure a balanced, nutritional, child friendly, reliable source of food for the growing and developing children this program serves. For less than a dollar a meal, the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia can provide 240 meals to a child each school year.

The Food Bank of Northeast Georgia relies on community partners to prevent malnutrition during the critical stages of development. Each week volunteers pack and deliver these bags to various schools throughout the community. School officials then distribute the sacks to the students. To learn more about this program or how to become a participating Partner Agency contact the Programs Coordinator, Beegee Elder at kidsmeals@foodbanknega.org.

“Congratulations to Valley Farm for winning the most votes. All the trees were beautiful and each group worthy of the money that was raised,” said Sharon Crosby, City of Toccoa Special Events Coordinator. “We would like to thank each organization and business that put up a tree. Each one was beautiful and reflected the group they represented.”

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Thursday, December 1, 2016

Blumenthal's Historic Plaque Ceremony

Press Release

Release: Immediate

Contact:  Christian Hamilton, 706.898.5777

RE: Historic Plaque Ceremony, All Things Currahee, December 1, 2016


TOCCOA, GA – The second historic plaque in the 2016-2017 series of plaques dedicated to downtown buildings will be unveiled on Thursday, December 1, 2016 at 5 p.m., at All Things Currahee, located at 46 Doyle Street. This location is the previous home of Blumenthal’s Department Store.

The location was constructed in 1905 and, as Blumenthal’s, provided for much of Toccoa’s residents’ needs. After Blumenthal’s closed, the storefront was owned by Mr. John Mullinax, owner and operator of Gem Jewelry, also located on Doyle Street. Later, the storefront housed many businesses, including Sonshine Bibles, Books, & Gifts, a local Christian business.

Today, this location houses All Things Currahee, a unique shop carrying local and regional handcrafted merchandise from artists and entrepreneurs in Stephens County and surrounding areas. This building is now owned by Mr. Rick and Mrs. Letha Philips.

 The historic plaque program highlights ten historic buildings in Toccoa, and the remaining plaques are set to follow each month. Once all plaques have been installed, they will be added to Main Street Toccoa’s Historic Walking Tour Guide.

Everyone is invited to attend this event! The Main Street Office is happy to answer any questions. Please contact Christian Hamilton at 706.898.5777 for inquiries.


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