Master the Art of Improv at Act 3 Productions

Act 3 Productions, a youth-community theater in Sandy Springs, is giving you the opportunity to get in touch with your inner actor. Beginning on January 22, 2010, the theater is offering an eight-week improv workshop. In addition to teaching you the foundations for improv theater, the classes will help give you more confidence in your every day life.

These classes are for both girls and boys in high school or older. By taking these classes early in the year, you will be adequately prepared to audition for a full-time improvisation troupe in the fall.

You will also get experience performing in front of a live audience because participants in the program will host a performance that is open to the public at the conclusion of the eight weeks.

With tuition priced at only $100 for the entire eight weeks, these classes are some of the most affordable acting lessons around. Interested participants should send an e-mail to act3productions@aol.com listing name, age, gender and contact information. Break a leg!

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Recycle Your Christmas Tree on January 8th

January 8, 2011
12:00 am	to	7:00 pm

When you decide to start tackling the task of taking down all of your Christmas decorations, be sure to hang on to your tree until January 8, 2011. The reason being that the Sandy Springs Recycling Center and the Home Depot will be collecting trees on January 8th to recycle. So, instead of just throwing away the beautiful pine and adding to the already overflowing landfills, your Christmas tree can be turned into mulch, fuel or fish habitats.

The program is called “Bring One for the Chipper,” and its purpose is to make the trees you’ve been enjoying this holiday season enjoyable for others. For example, the mulch from the recycled Christmas trees is used in many beautification projects around Sandy Springs or given to citizens free of charge.

So, go ahead and start taking down the festive decor that has filled your home for the past month, but don’t just throw out your tree. Remember to take it to the Sandy Springs Recycling Center or the Home Depot on Saturday, January 8th.

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New Sandy Springs Homeowners – Don’t Forget to File Homestead Exemption

If you purchased a new home in Sandy Springs during 2010, then you’ll want to make sure you apply for the homestead exemption by April 1, 2011. Getting the homestead exemption reduces your property taxes significantly, exemptions up to $30,000, so this is definitely not something to overlook. The good news is that you only have to apply once because the exemption is automatically renewed each year as long as you continually occupy the home under the same ownership.

The basic homestead exemption for Fulton County and the City of Atlanta applies to city operating, city school operating, city parks, state QBE and county operating taxes in the amount of $30,000. However, in order to be eligible for this exemption, you must meet the following requirements: Read more

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Sandy Springs Cuts Taxes on Businesses

The fact that Sandy Springs is the corporate headquarters of many large companies, like UPS and Newell Rubbermaid, as well as home to a myriad of small businesses is a key factor in keeping the economy and housing market stable. The City of Sandy Springs is well aware of this fact, and, in an attempt to keep these businesses happy as well as attract new ones, Sandy Springs is cutting taxes on businesses by about $1.3 million. 

Two major companies were waiting to see if the tax cuts would pass before they made the decision to move to Sandy Springs, and so they should be opening shop in Sandy Springs in the near future, helping to create more jobs for the city.

The law passed in a unanimous vote on Tuesday, December 22, 2010, and it affects all businesses in Sandy Springs, big and small.

The new provisions inludes: Read more

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Bring in 2011 with a Night Full of Laughs

December 31, 2010 6:00 pm

to

January 1, 2011 1:00 am

Any Sandy Springs resident looking for a great way to celebrate New Year’s Eve while avoiding huge masses of people downtown should look no further than the Punchline Comedy Club. The Punchline is one of Atlanta’s top comedy clubs, and is the longest running and continuously operated comedy club in Atlanta. As a venue that regularly attracts nationally renowned comedians, you can expect a top notch New Year’s Eve event.

For ringing in 2011, the Punchline does not disappoint. December 31, 2010 is your chance to see Dale Jones live. You may remember Dale from season 6 of Last Comic Standing, in which he was a semi-finalist. Since the reality show, Dale has been performing all over the nation. He has developed a reputation for having the most on-stage energy out of nearly all other comedians, and his zany on-stage character always sends club patrons to the exits with no disappointments. You will absolutely be laughing your way into 2011, and there’s no better way to welcome a new year than with a big smile.

Dale has three different performances on New Year’s Eve: 6:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online or call 404-252-LAFF for more information.

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Get Your Applications in for SSPD Explorers Program

If you are a teenager or young college student that is thinking about pursuing a career in law enforcement, then you will want to participate in the upcoming Explorers Program. The program begins in January 2011, and, although sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America,  is open to both men and women aged 14 to 21. However, there is not much time left to get your applications in. Once the City of Sandy Springs chooses 12 successful applicants, the application process will be closed.

As a participant in program, you will get a real feel for what it takes to be a police officer. You’ll be included in an assortment of police activities including DUI Checkpoints, traffic details and road races or with manpower on other large functions. The Explorers will also be trained in police functions geared towards honing their skills in preparation for competing in national explorer competitions. Read more

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Sandy Springs Launches CoSSpotter, a Smart Phone App

The City of Sandy Springs has taken one more step in opening the forms of communications between residents and city officials. Knowing that a majority of people prefer to communicate with their smart phones, Sandy Springs has launched a smart phone application, making it easier than ever to report a problem with the city. Instead of running over a pothole and making a mental note to submit a letter or make a phone call, you can snap a photo on the spot and submit it to the City on the spot. It’s as simple as that.

The application is called CoSSpotter, and it uses CitySourced technology to allow residents to identify public safety, quality of life and environmental issues and report them to City staff for quick resolution. It allows for immediate action, eliminating any chance you’ll forget to report the problem later. If you don’t know what issues to bring to the city’s attention, here are a few suggestions:

• Abandoned vehicles
• Graffiti
• Illegal dumping
• Broken sidewalks
• Potholes
• Overgrown trees and vegetation
• Dead animals

The best news is that the application is completely free of charge. Just visit the City’s website at www.sandyspringsga.org/cosspotter to download it to your phone; it’s available for Blackberry, Android and iPhone. Also on the website, or through the application, you can monitor the progress of any issues that you previously reported.

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Sandy Springs is One of America’s Most Stable Housing Markets

Forbes.com recently released a new list depicting the 20 most stable housing markets in America, and Sandy Springs is the only city in Georgia to make the list. Sandy Springs  made the cut due to the fact that home values have increased 2.5% in the last year, an achievement not many cities can claim. There is no denying that it is an amazing feat to be considered a stable housing market in such economic times.

In addition to the increase in home values, Sandy Springs is home to three major corporations: UPS, Newell Rubbermaid and Spectrum Brands. These three corporations, as well as the multiple other businesses that call Sandy Springs home, make the metro Atlanta city full of job opportunities, which also adds to the stability of the housing market. Read more

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Overlook Park wins Top Beautification Award

Big congratulations to the City of Sandy Springs and, more specifically, Morgan Falls Overlook Park as it recently received Georgia’s top beautification award in the Community Improvement category by Keep Georgia Beautiful, a part of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA). The Community Improvement award recognizes efforts to preserve and improve the beauty of a community, and, if you have been to this award-winning park, you know very well it achieves these efforts flawlessly.

There is hardly a community park more deserving of such an honor as Overlook Park. It is the City’s first master-planned and constructed park since its incorporation in 2005, and is situated directly on the Chattahoochee River with a variety of shaded areas and swings to enjoy the waterfront views. In addition to the myriad of green space and walking trails, Overlook Park features innovative playground equipment and a multi-use pavilion with fireplace, horseshoe pits and grills. Despite being open less than six months, Overlook Park has become a community landmark and favorite neighborhood gathering place.

If you have not yet visited Morgan Falls Overlook Park in person, there is not a better time than now. So gather family and friends and spend a joyous day at this amazing community park.

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Sandy Springs is Home to Atlanta’s Best Sports Bars

The football season is nearing an end, and it’s bittersweet. On the one hand, America’s favorite sport season is coming to a conclusion, which means Saturdays and Sundays will be a little less exciting. However, it also means that the most anticipated games of the season, the bowl games, are just around the corner. Next to being at the game in person, gathering a group of friends and heading to the local sports bar is just about the most enjoyable way to view your favorite teams. So, with the bowl games just ahead, Yahoo! published an article naming the top sports bars in North Metro Atlanta, and three of the top five are located in Sandy Springs. Read more

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