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.

Capture Toccoa: What Does Toccoa Mean To You?

As part of the celebration of Georgia Cities Week, Main Street Toccoa is hosting a photo contest.  Take a picture that you think BEST captures what Toccoa means to you.  It can be a person, a place, or a thing.  Post it on Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #capturetoccoa. 

All pictures must be taken and posted during Georgia Cities Week, April 20-24.  There will be three categories for pictures:  Best Scenic, Best Person/People, and Best Stephens County Spirit.  When the picture is posted to Facebook or Twitter, in addition to the #capturetoccoa hashtag, also include a hashtag indicating which category the picture belongs in (#bestsecenic, #bestperson, #bestspirit). 

On April 27, Main Street Toccoa will post all pictures submitted in an album on their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/mainstreettoccoa) with the category as the picture description.  The public will have until May 8 at 5:00 p.m. to vote for their favorite picture.  The picture with the most likes in each category WINS!  The winners will be announced at the National Train Day event on May 9.  The first place winner from each category will receive a framed 8x10 print of their photo from Troup’s Studio. 

Everyone is invited to participate in this event!  The Main Street Office is happy to answer any questions.  Please contact Weslie Clark at 706.282.3232 for inquiries.