Local Students Honor Arbor Day

Student winners of an Arbor Day art project called, “If I were a Tree” were honored by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Acworth during that body's regular Thursday evening meeting.

Kindergarteners through sixth graders that attend McCall Primary, Acworth Intermediate, Frey Elementary and Brookwood Christian schools, along with their families, filed into a packed City Hall to receive recognition for their artwork from alderman and former principal Butch Price, Parks and Recreation Director James Albright and Acworth Tree Commission member Cyndi McLaughlan. Each child's poster was displayed on screens in the council chambers and each child received an award for their first, second or third place finish.

The contest, called “If I were a Tree,” encouraged children to think about how they can conserve trees and to consider the needs of other lifeforms in their every day lives as they create a poster that shows what their life would be like if they were a tree. Many students put their own faces on their trees; one student said he would grow money if he were a tree.

Additionally, Mayor Tommy Allegood presented McLaughlan with a proclamation recognizing Arbor Day in the city. For the last 23 years, Acworth has been recognized as a Tree City by The Arbor Day Foundation. The Acworth Tree Commission regularly plants trees and is responsible for the tree poster projects at local schools. The Tree Commission will be planting a new tree to recognize Arbor Day at Tanyard Creek Park Friday at 2 p.m.

Not to be outdone, students from North Cobb Christian School were recognized for their victory in the Georgia Independent School Association's One Act Play Contest. Their play, “Running Upstream,” deals with the life of a physically handicapped boy and how the world should and should not treat people with disabilities. In addition to winning the state tournament, the troupe brought home Best Actor and Best Actress prizes in the regional and state competitions. This is the school's fourth such state title, all coming under the stewardship of Director of the Arts Matthew Lynn Hendrix.

“We killed them,” Hendrix said. “In the best Christian sort of the term.”

“Look around the room at all of these children,” said Mayor Tommy Allegood. “Look at the talent we have. Behind that, we have principals, teachers and you parents that are inspiring and being a part of your childrens' lives. That's what makes our community so special.”

After the presentations were completed, the Board of Aldermen unanimously passed the consent agenda. Notable items from the agenda include:

• Clear Channel Outdoor, Inc. has sixty days to remove an LED billboard located at South Main Street between Maple and Winn streets.
• There will be monthly bluegrass concerts held at the gazebo at Cauble Park from May to August and October.
• Classic Car Cruise Nights will take over Downtown Acworth on March 31, June 30 and Sept. 29. The event will close Main Street from 3 to 10 p.m.
• Horizon Field will be used by the Kennesaw State University sports marketing class as a venue for a wiffle ball tournament to raise funds for the Kyle Pease Foundation.
• The city will purchase 11 mobile biometric fingerprint identification systems for a cost not to exceed $20,524.

The remainder of the agenda can be found here.

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