Toccoa celebrates National Train Day

The City of Toccoa will join with Amtrak in celebrating the 2011 National Train Day on May 7, 2011 with a special event at the historic train depot in downtown Toccoa. Mayor Janice English, 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.

New this year to the celebration will be a special train display in the Mitchell Allen room of the Currahee Military Museum. Dess Oliver, from the Railroad Museum in Rabun Gap will display his collection of "trains throughout the decades." The display will be open from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Admission is free.

The City of Toccoa has had a long history with the railroad industry. In fact, the city originated in 1873, and can be traced back to the development of a coaling station for the Atlanta to Charlotte Railroad after the Civil War. Over the years, due to access to the railroad, industry came to Toccoa as well as a college and a United States military training camp. The city has also benefited for the past thirty years from Amtrak’s Crescent Line being one of only three stops in Georgia. In 2008, more than 3,000 people came through the historic downtown via Amtrak and the number increases every year.

"Not only does the National Train Day celebration help focus on the importance of the railroad to our community, it highlights the opportunities it presents today. We continue to promote Amtrak travel as a relaxing way to visit Toccoa," states Sharon Crosby, Special Events Coordinator.

The Crescent Line travels through more states – including the District of Columbia – than any other Amtrak route. Offering daily service, the 1,377 - mile route travels from New York’s Penn Station to the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal in 30 hours, stopping in 33 communities along the way.

Toccoa Downtown Tree Planting Completed

The City of Toccoa was one of seven recipients of the Georgia’s Growing Green Program. In March, 86 trees were planted in downtown Toccoa as part of the program and will be maintained for the next year. The grant was funded by the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the Georgia Forestry Commission and Toccoa received $25,787 to plant the trees.

The grant trees were planted along Doyle, Boulevard, and Tugalo Streets. Additional trees were planted at Doyle Street Park. The trees were planted in ways to supplement the dogwoods planted by the Toccoa Woman’s Club 40 years ago. Around 60 of those dogwoods had died, so the funding was used to replace and maintain these heritage dogwoods.

Trees planted include 59 dogwoods, 12 trident maples, 6 red oaks and 9 white oaks. The trees expand Main Street Toccoa’s urban forest to include popular walkways to downtown shopping and restaurants as well as along seating and play areas in Doyle Street Park. The trees make downtown Toccoa more pedestrian friendly.

The primary purpose of the grant is to create jobs as well as enhance the environment in Toccoa. Eberhardt Landscaping of Hartwell, Georgia purchased and planted the 86 trees March 11-16.

Toccoa-Stephens County More Ready Than Ever for Film and TV Productions

The Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office will host the designation ceremony for Georgia’s newest Camera Ready Communities, including Toccoa, today at the State Capitol. Governor Nathan Deal will designate 73 Georgia counties Camera Ready at 10am.

Being named Camera Ready means T-SC has in place a program that provides film and television production companies with easier, faster and better access to local resources and location information. The T-SC Chamber of Commerce is the primary local contact for production companies as the Camera Ready liaison. They partner with Main Street Toccoa and the Development Authority to identify local resources, from locations and hotels to businesses, such as caterers and dry cleaners.

Camera Ready will help to ensure we can stay ahead of the competition by meeting the very specific local needs production companies have. There are a wealth of locations, talent and assets in our community and in our state that production companies can use to everyone’s advantage. Camera Ready is one more way we’re making sure they do.

LOCAL AUTHOR JEFFREY STEPAKOFF HONORED AT STATE CAPITOL

Veteran Hollywood television/film writer and noted Atlanta author Jeffrey Stepakoff was honored at the Georgia State Capitol Thursday, Feb. 10 when the legislature passed a resolution officially declaring Feb. 10 "Toccoa-Stephens County (T-SC) Fireworks Over Toccoa Day." Stepakoff’s novel, Fireworks Over Toccoa (St. Martin’s Press, April 2010), was published last year to national critical acclaim and is the inspiration behind the day-long celebration coordinated by T-SC Chamber of Commerce. Gov. Nathan Deal, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, executive branch officers, and legislators received signed copies of the novel, met the author, and attended photo sessions.

"A Fireworks over Toccoa Day inspired by this amazing book is worthy of recognition by this body," the House resolution introduced by Rep. Michael Harden of Toccoa read. State Sen. Jim Butterworth of Clarkesville introduced a similar resolution the Senate.

Coordinated by the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce, the day’s events featured a legislative orientation and briefing, proclamations, lunch, and photo sessions with state officials. Signed copies of Stepakoff’s "Fireworks over Toccoa" were placed on legislators’ chamber desks in both the House and Senate, compliments of publisher St. Martin’s Press. More than 150 political and business leaders, residents and students from Toccoa and Stephens County participated in the celebration.

"I am so flattered that my work is being recognized by our state legislators," said Stepakoff. "It is truly an honor."

Stepakoff, a veteran Hollywood TV and film writer of such well-known series as "The Wonder Years," "Sisters," Disney’s "Tarzan, "Major Dad," and "Dawson’s Creek" (where he was also co-executive producer), returned to his hometown roots several years ago and is making a name for himself as the master of the "new love story."

Stepakoff’s Fireworks over Toccoa is a coming-of-age love story set in the small North Georgia town of Toccoa during World War II. The novel has been translated into four languages and will be released in paperback on March 15.

His latest book, The Orchard, is also a love story that focuses on two prevalent themes in today’s society: organic foods and sustainability. The novel is set in the small Georgia town of Ellijay and is slated for publication July 5, 2011.

Fox Carolina's Town Takeover of Toccoa Tomorrow!

Tomorrow FOX Carolina's Morning Anchors Cody Alcorn and Margaret Burnquist will be broadcasting LIVE from downtown Toccoa.

Everyone in Toccoa is invited to come downtown Doyle Street to enjoy a free morning of music, food, giveaways and the excitement of being part of a live TV broadcast as FOX Carolina puts Toccoa in the spotlight!

WHEN: Tomorrow, Thursday, November 4

TIME: Anytime between 6:45 – 9 a.m. – or stay for the entire show!

WHERE: Downtown Toccoa on Doyle Street

WHY: To show everyone why Toccoa is THE place to live, work and play


The broadcast will take place rain or shine, so make plans to head to downtown to show your support of Toccoa! Bring signs supporting Toccoa and bring your family and friends to enjoy this free event and support the city. This is Toccoa’s time to shine!