About The Baldwin bulletin. (Milledgeville, GA) ????-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 24, 2017)
Page A2 The Baldwin Bulletin I www.BBnews.today Thursday, August 24,2017 » BALDWIN LIFESTYLE HOMETOWN CELEBRATION ALAINA MINSHEW/Staff Doodle's Cupcake Bakery was one of the vendors who had edible goodies for sale during the event. Downtown event booming with locals ALAINA MINSHEW alaina@bbnews.today The Hometown Celebration took place from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 18, highlighting local businesses and the down town area of Milledgeville. People gathered around to partake in the fun festivities that Milledgeville prepped for them. “At this time of year I think it’s really great because we have the new college kids coming in, and it gives them a sense of what’s down here,” Keith Grant, owner of Doodle’s Cupcake Bakery said. “It shows what Milledgeville is all about. I just think it’s a really good thing for people to get together and have a really good time.” Grant said she was happy to have people come out to support the local businesses. She was a sponsor for the Hometown Celebration and was happy to be a part of it since she is from Milledgeville. “We had all kinds of stuff, but our main focus was cupcakes,” Grant said. “We also do caramel brownies, sausage balls, cookies and we did a new thing called a salted caramel chocolate chip cookie dough bar. One of our big sellers was the buffalo chicken dip.” Grant also hosts cookie decorating classes people can take and she hopes to be a part of some upcoming Christmas events. She also does catering for those who need it. There were various games to play, including a large checkboard which was set up on the street. Plus vendors on the street selling their crafts. Gloria Muhammad is a soap maker, and she was selling her original products during the event. “Everything we have is hand made; from our soaps, charcoal scrubs, body washes and every thing has a use,” Muhammad said. “I’ve been in Milledgeville for many, many years, and Milledgeville has been very good to me. I wanted to show my support by coming out to the Hometown Celebration. Muhammad’s business is called NaTaRe Creations and she has an etsy shop at etsy.com/ shop/NaTaReCreations. Kayti Nika Raet and Hana Kura are Muhammad’s daughters. Raet is an author and Kura is an artist. “I like the local business scene here, and I get a lot of customers who also become my friends. I enjoy interacting with people,” Muhammad said. “I started making soaps for my babies and when they got older I decided to make it into a family business.” Another sponsor for the Hometown Celebration was Blackbird Coffee located right in the downtown area. Daniel Jones, an employee of Blackbird, who has been working at the local cafe for a year and a half now, said the coffee is roasted in house for everyone to enjoy year round. “I think we have been sponsors since the first time they’ve done this celebration,” Jones said. “Supporting your community is probably one of the most important things and I’d say people had fun.” Willie R. Davis Jr. is a Mainstreet board member and a Milledgeville native. He is a self-employed accountant, and he was helping out during the Hometown Celebration to inform people about the festivities. “Mainstreet tries to put on this event this time of year because the college is just starting back, and it gives everyone an opportunity to come down, listen to the bands, and it gives the community a chance to try the local downtown merchants,” Davis said. “A lot of people just don’t get downtown.” As the evening went on, the performances began so everyone in the downtown area was able to enjoy local music and support their local businesses. “The musicians are local, and we try to get local music. We try to showcase local talent, and the vendors are local as well. They are all from Milledgeville,” Davis said. Davis wants everyone to support the city’s local businesses in some form and was happy to see so many faces. With activities for the entire family to enjoy, these events have something for everyone to partake in. “People can support us through donations, volunteerism and just coming to our events,” Davis said. “Whether it be Hometown Celebration or First Friday.” WIL PETTY/Staff Members of the Milledgeville City Council voted to provide $150,000 to the Central State Hospital Local Redevelopment Authority. The agreement is to return the money back to the city within a year, interest free. City Continued from A1 in order to use it as an engine for economic development in Milledgeville and Baldwin County. During a work session on Aug. 8, it was proposed the city could offer aid to the CSHLRA without the Authority acquiring a high interest rate. In a Aug. 15 work session, Milledgeville Mayor Gary Thrower said he was against issuing additional interest. “If we can provide this as a service and save them that interest, given what they’re giving to the community, would probably be more advantageous than asking for an additional (few hundred dollars each month),” he said. In the same work session, all members expressed support for the decision, with Councilmember Jeanette Walden (District 2) being the most vocal for it. “I think it would be a positive (for the city),” she said. During the CSHLRA’s monthly board meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 16, Couch discussed how this agreement would affect their efforts. For one, it would save the Authority close to $7,000. «The city has been our greatest investor and backer,» he said. The CSHLRA board voted during that meeting to go ahead and allow Couch to sign the MOU, so work could be completed before its next meeting in September. This funding will allow the Authority to continue forward with surveying and other actions required before buildings can be sold. The $150,000 is scheduled to be repaid in full within the year, and Couch said he believed it could be paid back fully as soon as agreements are reached with companies. In other action, the board: — Heard the first reading of two ordinances that would amend the city’s land develop ment code to allow overlay for special use at two properties: 200 S. Liberty St., and 310 W. Greene St. — Unanimously passed a resolution to authorize a memo randum of understanding with the Twin Lakes Library System for renovation and use of space in the City Hall East Annex, located at 127 E. Hancock St. Renewable energy is important to us. So is having space in our yard.” Michelle & Sam Solar panels don’t fit in every yard. But if a beautiful garden and renewable energy are important, we have a solution for you. 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