-Oct. 11: Bartow County Board of Education. Agenda
-Oct. 13: Bank of the Ozarks to announce third quarter earnings: The successor bank to Unity National Bank -- with offices in Cartersville, Adairsville, Calhoun and Rome -- will announce third quarter performance stats late that Wednesday.
-Oct. 14: The Cartersville Career Center will host a Veteran's Career Expo from 9 a..m. until 1 p.m. at American Legion Post No. 42 at 1 Roosevelt St. Veterans as well as other jobseekers are encouraged to attend. Please come prepared for potential on the spot interviews. Source: Georgia Department of Labor.
-Oct. 16: 'Taste of Cartersville' from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. The day will feature live music and entertainment on stage, cooking demonstrations, the Atlanta Braves Kids Corner, giveaways and much more. The event is open to all Cartersville restaurants and caterers. For more information, please call the Cartersville DDA at 770-607-3480.
-Oct. 16: Changes for Welcome Center, Downtown Development: The Cartersville Welcome Center at the Depot is open. The "official" opening is Saturday, Oct. 16. Hours of operation are: Monday-Friday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. (and Saturdays from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. beginning Oct. 16.) The Cartersville Downtown Development Authority offices are now on the first floor of the train depot with office hours from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
-Oct. 16-17: 2010 Disc Dog National Finals & World Finals, Dellinger Park. 110 qualified teams from around the world compete for the U.S. National finals and World Finals. Details
The Buzz of Northwest Georgia. Buzz
-Liz Claiborne closing outlet stores, including Calhoun; deals begin.
-Mount Berry Square's new general manager: New tenants among team's Urban Retail's priorities for mall.
-Candidate profiles/Senate District 52: GOP hopeful Barry Loudermilk on helping businesses; the Cabela's near-miss; 411 Connector debate.
-Three-Dot Buzz: Wine tasting this week; lunchtime music Friday.
Latest updates from the Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce. Click
-How about those Spartans, Seminoles, Gamecocks, Tigers and Lane Kiffin?
John McClellan's picks for week eight to post Tuesday. Click
-John went 9-2 locally last Friday.
Shorter Hawks football. Hawks
-Oct. 16: Hawks (3-3) at Belhaven, 2:30 p.m.
Rome Braves/State Mutual Stadium. Click Sports
-Oct. 16-17: Second Annual Softball Slam.
-Oct. 23: Montgomery Gentry concert.
-Nov. 12: Braves Celebrity Shootout golf match.
Three Dot Buzz . . . :
Liz Claiborne closing at Calhoun Premium Outlets
-One of the first things Simon, the new owner of the renamed Calhoun Premium Outlets, is looking at is what to do with the current home of Liz Claiborne in the northwest corner of the campus.
The shop--and 86 other Liz Claiboarne outlet stores--will close just after the Christmas shopping season. Click Archive/Chronicle.
On Sunday, a 50- to 80-percent sale was under way on select items and one of those "sign guys" was on the road into the outlets, advertising "store closing specials." The shop has a large storefront complete with some rare frontage on Interstate 75 northbound.
The outlets continue to adjust to new ownership. In addition to a restyled website and new signage, you're seeing more about ongoing specials (Columbus Day sale ends today) and upcoming events (Trick or Treat at Premium Outlets on Friday, Oct. 29). Click Events . . .
-Wine time this Thursday 6:30 p.m. Riverside Gourmet, 250 Broad St. Tasting eight wines from Prime. Cost: $10 per person. Click . . .
-A little lunchtime music: The Rome Area Songwriters Association plans a series of Friday afternoon performances at the Rome-Floyd County Library this month. Stop by between noon and 2 p.m. to hear the local musicians. Bring your lunch if you'd like. Click Library . . .
Mount Berry's new general manager: 'Leasing team working diligently to maximize the center's merchandise mix.'
This photo, from Mount Berry's Facebook page, shows some of the events now held at Mount Berry Square including College Night on the first Tuesday of the month. Next edition: Tuesday, Nov. 2..
By Natalie Simms
nsimmshh@att.net
Mount Berry Square's new general manager is hitting the ground running by working to stabilize the shopping center's image while gearing up for the busiest shopping season of the year. James Dolan (archive) has been on the job less than a month but has more than 20 years of experience needed to breathe life into the struggling mall.
In the past two years, Mount Berry Square has gone from private ownership to J.P. Morgan Chase and from under the management of Jones Lang LaSalle to the current Urban Retail Properties. Dolan believes the mall's future is bright.
"The mall continues to operate as a first-class regional shopping center. We have budgeted and are spending dollars as usual for all goods and services necessary to run the mall. Additionally, we are working with a local advertising agency that has created a fall and holiday advertising and events program for the center," he says.
"Certainly hiring me as the new general nanager for the mall sends a message to the tenants and the community that the mall will continue to be open, business as usual."
The mall does have a number of empty spaces, including the former Proffitt's site. Dolan says Urban Retail is working on that. A listing currently appears on the commercial real estate site Loopnet. Click
This image, from Mount Berry's Loopnet ad, shows the Proffitt's site now available for lease--whole or subdivided. Belk and Profitt's merged several years ago; Belk used both spots for more than a year before consolidating to the original location.
"While I can't discuss specific new store deals for any spaces in the mall until they are fully executed, I can tell you that Urban is a nationally recognized developer and manager in the shopping center industry," he says. "Our 37-year history will provide Mount Berry Square mall with industry expertise in all aspects of leasing and managing the center. Our leasing team is working diligently to maximize the center's merchandise mix and add value to the property."
In the meantime, Dolan is looking forward to the Christmas shopping season. And with lots of competition for consumers, the mall wants to be a choice for shoppers.
This photo, from Mount Berry's Facebook page, shows some of the events now held at Mount Berry Square including Kids World on every second Saturday. That's Re-Re with the recycling center and a mall guest.
"Any type of competition -- whether it's big boxes, downtown, online sales or other malls -- all play a role in choices consumers have for spending," he says. "Any of those choices take a piece of the consumer's total discretionary dollars."
Upcoming mall events include:
-Trick or Treat, Oct. 30 from 6-9 p.m.
-College Night, Nov. 2 from 5-8 p.m.
-Santa arrives, Nov. 12 at 6 p.m.
Candidate profiles/State Senate District 52
-Hometown Headlines continues a series of candidate profiles for the contested races appearing on the Nov. 2 ballot. The profiles are written by Natalie Simms.
-Missing candidates: Each candidate was contacted by phone and e-mail to participate in our profiles. The deadline was late September. Rather than delay the profiles because of those candidates' reluctance, Hometown is moving ahead with the profiles of those candidates who cooperated with our request to help inform local voters.
State Senate District 52 (Floyd, Bartow, Gordon, Polk counties)
-Barry Loudermilk, Republican, vs. Michael Burton, Democrat.
-Hometown Headlines contacted Michael Burton on several occasions but he did not respond to our request.
Question: What specific legislation would you introduce or co-sign regarding job stimulations in Northwest Georgia? We're not seeing the hoped-for spinoff effect from the VW plant in Chattanooga and efforts to bring major tourist attractions to Bartow County keep stalling. What definitive relief can you provide on the state-level?
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Loudermilk: "I have co-sponsored numerous bills during the past six years, designed to reduce the tax and regulatory burden on Georgia taxpayers and businesses. I co-sponsored both of the JOBS bills, introduced in the previous two sessions. I will again introduce or co-sponsor legislation in the 2011 session that will help stimulate new job growth in Georgia. Small businesses are the largest employers in our state. Since the layoff rate has returned to pre-recession levels, we need to focus on reducing the financial burden and the economic uncertainty businesses are facing.
"We can make Georgia a more business-friendly environment by reducing or eliminating taxes that punish growth and wise investment. Personal and corporate income tax, capital gains taxes, and net-worth taxes, punish growth and investment and should be eliminated and replaced by a consumption tax. If we restructure Georgia's tax code, where our state is more attractive to business growth and development, especially for long-term investments, we would not need to so heavily rely on one-time incentives to attract business. Georgia is rich in natural resources and hosts a well-qualified and affordable work force. Our transportation system is one of the best maintained in the nation, and we have a very viable rail system throughout the state. However, when it comes to taxation, Georgia is not as business-friendly as some of the surrounding states, and that puts us at a serious disadvantage.
"We also need to focus on what a business or industry will bring to our state, not just what the state can get out of them. A good example is the lost opportunity with Cabela's and the recent ski resort. Cabela's decided to not proceed with plans to build a retail outlet in Adairsville because the state Department of Revenue insisted that, once Cabela's opened in the state, all their Internet sales would be subject to state sales tax. Because the department would not allow them an exemption for Internet sales, the state lost out on all their sales."
Question: With the 411 Connector stuck in another delay and expanded litigation expected, what are the realistic chances that work will begin on the highway before you complete your next term?
-Loudermilk: "The Department of Transportation is ready to begin buying right-of-way by July 2011; however, this will be stalled because the Rollins family has already announced they will once again be filing a law suit to stop the project. If the courts decide quickly, the DOT can begin purchasing the right-of-way by the end of next year. This process will have to be completed before the actual construction can begin, and it will take about two years to acquire all the property."
Question: What would you do to make it happen?
-Loudermilk: "I will continue to work with the DOT and local interests to ensure the project stays on track. We will need to ensure the funding for right-of-way purchasing stays in the 2012 transportation budget, and that we fund the construction in the 2013 or 2014 budgets. I will continue to work with the governor's office, the Director of Transportation funding, and Congressman Phil Gingrey to ensure this project remains a top priority."
Question: Do you support or oppose the 411 Connector as the route is drawn today?
-Loudermilk: "I support the current route. The alternate route being publicized did not meet the minimum federal requirements during the initial phase. This route, as well as others, was eliminated early in the planning process because it didn't meet the minimum requirements. If any change is made to the current plans, the last five years of planning will be thrown out, and the entire process will have to be started over again. This would not only be a waste of taxpayer money, it would result in the loss of state and federal dollars allocated to this project. Changing the route now would result in a minimum of a five- to 15-year delay, or possibly a total cancellation of the project."
Question: There are a multitude of issues facing Georgians from cuts in education, healthcare reform and job losses. What will be the first area of concern you will address?
-Loudermilk: "We have to readdress our priorities and focus our funds on the proper and Constitutional services of our state government. We must also address the structure of our state government, and find ways to reduce costs through consolidation. While we have done a lot over the past years to eliminate duplication, there are still agencies and departments that can be consolidated to save taxpayer money. We will also need to dig deeper into the state budget to find areas of waste that can be eliminated.
I co-sponsored legislation last year that would automatically sunset a board, agency or department that was created by general law, unless specifically re-initiated by the General Assembly. Georgia has too many boards, agencies and departments being funded each year, some of which are actually obsolete. I will again work to pass similar legislation in the coming session."
Question: What will you do to improve this issue/area of concern?
-Loudermilk: "I have co-sponsored legislation over the past several years that will bring more transparency to the budget process. The General Assembly has twice passed a zero-based budget initiative, which was vetoed by the Governor. I will once again sponsor and support this legislation, and work with our new Governor to ensure that it will be implemented in Georgia."
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