THE VALLEY QUARTERLY Newsletter.pdf · 2017. 6. 1. · WIC approved farmer and farmers’ market....

IN THIS ISSUE: STAFF NEWS

Staff Spotlight………………………….2

Intern Spotlight……………………….2

GENERAL RVRC NEWS RVRC Councilmen Receive ACCG Posi ons………………………………...4

Legisla ve Luncheon……………….4

2012 T‐SPLOST………………………..5

Georgia Academy Graduates…..6

GFOA Conference…………………...7

RVRC Council Members Appointed to GMA Board………..8

PLANNING/COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Cha ahoochee River– Endangered……………………………..2

RVRC Receives NADO Award…...3

Aerial Imagery Flight………………..3

Prison to Peanuts……………………..4

Safe Routes to School……………….7

Bike to Work Day……………………..8

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

RVRC Communi es receive USDA Grant……………………………………….3

CEDS………………………………………..4

WORKFORCE INVESTMENT

WIA Par cipant Spotlight………...6

WIA GED Graduates………………...7

AREA AGENCY ON AGING

Senior Farmer’s Market…………...2

CDSMP Workshops…………………..3

2012 Caregiver Conference………6

RICHLAND RUM CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING

From the Executive Director’s Desk... The River Valley Regional Commission staff has been extremely busy the last few months trying to wrap‐up current fiscal year projects. The Economic Development Department and the Planning Department each conducted on‐line surveys of regional stakeholders, which revealed some interes ng insights about the River Valley Region. The Economic Development staff conducted an online Economic Development Self‐Assessment survey for the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) that is due to the Economic Development Administra on on October 1, 2012. The survey conducted by the Planning staff was in conjunc on with development of the Regional Agenda and Regional Work Program that is to be transmi ed to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs in August of 2012. In the CEDS survey, respondents stated that the lack of a well‐trained workforce is the most significant economic development weakness in an individual county, while tourism assets are a county’s greatest economic development strength. Overwhelmingly, 75.4% of those surveyed feel that the flight of younger genera ons from their home county threatens the economic poten al of their community. In the Regional Agenda survey, respondents stated that increasing owner‐occupied housing and increasing the amount of affordable housing in close proximity to jobs were important issues. Respondents preferred neighborhoods with historic homes, small‐scale “courtyard” apartment complexes, and tradi onal neighborhood development. Respondents also desired more bicycle trails/routes and facili es and the opportunity for residen al lo space in downtown areas. Regarding environmental issues, respondents rated water quality and water preserva on, as well as protec ng historic and environmentally sensi ve areas, as very important. The River Valley Regional Council and staff will con nue to evaluate our mission and programs in order to ensure that we are planning for and enhancing our quality of life and economic compe veness in order to create a robust region.

-Patti

Richland Rum held its Grand Opening on June 2, 2012 in downtown Richland, Georgia. Over 100 people were there to celebrate this significant day, including Richland Mayor, Adolph McLendon, who welcomed the business to the downtown area. Erik Vonk, President and CEO of Richland Dis lling Company, welcomed the crowd and explained that this had been a long day coming. “I appreciate all the work and assistance given to me by the City of Richland, Richland Downtown Development Authority, and Richland Be er Hometown. We wouldn’t be here without them.” He went on to say that they have been in produc on since October of 2011 and the product will be

available for sale through distributors in August of 2012. Richland Rum is an ar san product requiring more me and labor resul ng in a product well worth the wait. While most rums use molasses as the base, Richland Rum uses only sugar cane syrup crea ng a dis nc ve flavor. Richland Rum will put Richland on the map, not only na onally, but interna onally as well!

THE VALLEY QUARTERLY

(Pictured left to right) Jay McCain and Erik Vonk, Richland Distilling Company

July 2012 | 4th Quarter

Staff Spotlight

Volunteer Spotlight J F

Jus n is currently working with Tina Rust in the GIS Department. He is from Faye eville, GA,

but ended up in Columbus to play baseball for Columbus State University. He will graduate this fall with a Bachelor’s Degree in History and a minor in Geography. He would like to pursue a career in GIS, and would eventually like to move out west.

C M R

Ca e is the new volunteer for Bike/Ped Staff, Julio Por llo and Kayra Velez. Ca e is from Columbus

and is currently a sophomore at Columbus State University majoring in Business, but has a strong interest in working with the public sector. She hopes to eventually work with local government and own her own business.

S S

Shakendra is the newest addi on to the Area Agency on Aging, and will be working in the Columbus office as an Intake & Referral Specialist. She will be screening current and poten al new clients for various service needs, eligibility for programs, and referrals for appropriate programs. Shakendra recently

graduated from Columbus State University with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Health Science, and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Public Health. She is looking forward to working with the AAA, as well as everyone else at the River Valley Regional Commission.

Chattahoochee River listed as greatest & most endangered

waterway The Cha ahoochee River has recently been placed on two renowned lists of waterways. In April of 2012, the Apalachicola‐Cha ahoochee‐Flint (ACF) basin was placed on the “Great Waters” list by America’s Great Waters Coali on. The ACF basin joined the list with other natural resources such as the Everglades, Great Lakes, and the Mississippi River, designa ng it as both a tribute and a warning. While the Cha ahoochee was acknowledged by its whitewater project and the Mill Creek restora on project of Phenix City, this river system is s ll threatened by both pollu on and altered water flows. This past May, the American Rivers Coali on issued its list of the 10 “Most Endangered” rivers in the U.S. The Cha ahoochee River ranked 3rd behind the Potomac River of the Chesapeake Bay and the largest tributary of the Colorado River, the Green River. The Cha ahoochee is threatened by the proposed development of the Glades reservoir near the river’s headwaters and the Bear Creek reservoir below Atlanta. The American Rivers Coali on es mates that this development will take away up to 140 million gallons of water per day from the river and destroy more than 130,000 feet of tributaries, which will result in altered water flows and habitat destruc on. A consistent, cold, clean, in‐stream flow is required to sustain the abundant trout popula on, both a valuable recrea onal and economical resource for the state. Efforts to protect our region’s waterways have been ongoing through the State’s water planning councils and the Environmental Protec on Division’s Total Maximum Daily Load program. Organiza ons like America’s Water Coali on and American Rivers Coali on have included this river system on these lists in order to bring na onal a en on to the problem, with hopes of teaching the ecological significance of the ACF basin. Whether you live in rural farmland or urban ci es, it is important to prac ce good water stewardship so that we may posi vely affect our environment for ourselves and future genera ons.

Chattahoochee River

The River Valley Area Agency on Aging had a 100% redemp on rate of check vouchers for the 2011 Georgia Senior Farmers Market Nutri on Program (GSFMNP). There were 671 voucher sets allocated, each with 5 checks, and all were used in full! The GSFMNP is done once a year, and provides eligible senior par cipants with check vouchers and the ability to purchase Georgia‐Grown fruits and vegetables from a WIC approved farmer and farmers’

market. This program, with sites scheduled throughout the summer, expands the awareness and use of farmers’ markets in addi on to providing our seniors with good nutri onal value.

Senior Farmer’s Market: 100% Success!

Seniors at the Georgia Senior Farmer’s Market

The Val ley Quarter ly | Ju ly 2012 | 4th Quarter

The River Valley Regional Commission was recently awarded a 2012 Excellence in Regional Transporta on Award from the Na onal Associa on of Development Organiza ons (NADO) for the More Pedal‐Less Metal: Urban Bicycling Ini a ve. NADO is a Washington, DC‐based associa on that promotes programs and policies to strengthen local governments, communi es and economies through regional coopera on, program delivery, and comprehensive strategies. The Excellence in Regional Transporta on Awards showcase organiza ons for noteworthy projects and prac ces in rural and small metropolitan transporta on planning, program delivery, and special ini a ves. Award winners received na onal recogni on at the 2012 Na onal Rural Transporta on Peer Learning Conference, April 25 – 27 in Burlington, Vermont. According to NADO President Russ Cowley, Execu ve Director of the Six County Associa on of Governments in Richfield, Utah: “The Excellence in Regional Transporta on Awards highlight the important results of programs and projects like the More Pedal‐Less Metal: Urban Bicycling Ini a ve. Such ini a ves are central to fostering quality of place and facilita ng economic vitality in our na on’s communi es by promo ng effec ve transporta on networks.” More Pedal‐Less Metal, held in both Columbus and Americus during the Fall, served as a way to get community members excited about cycling, while teaching them several safety components, including proper helmet fi ngs and road e que e. The event was able to serve approximately 200 ci zens, collec vely, from both ci es. This is the third year in a row that the RVRC has won this award.


RVRC Receives NADO’s Excellence in Regional Transportation Award

Chronic Disease Self Management Program begins

well-attended sessions

RVRC Communities Awarded USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grants

Montezuma (Macon County), Butler (Taylor County), and Cusseta‐Cha ahoochee County have recently been awarded Rural Business Enterprise Grants (RBEG) by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Montezuma was awarded $42,000 for improvements to their water system, improving water supply and pressure in the industrial park. In case of a fire, water storage is depleted, which leaves the city without sufficient water supply that can take as long as two weeks to refill. This grant will allow the water supply to be replenished quickly, giving sufficient water needed in case of fire, and to allow normal business opera ons to con nue. Butler received $45,000 in in order to move forward with the development along state highways 19 and 96, which includes an access road that will, in the future, connect the two highways. The development of this road will benefit the 4 to 5 business considering expanding to this area, and could poten ally a ract more. Cusseta‐Cha ahoochee County received $42,000 to assist in making improvements to their water system. This will benefit four businesses by replacing an inadequate water line that produces poor water quality and low water pressure. Congratula ons to these communi es!

The first successful Chronic Disease Self Management Program (CDSMP) workshop was held at the Reginald Barry Jr. Senior Center in Crisp County, and was facilitated by Ilona Prea le, Lauren Pfrogner, and Gary Gordon. The CDSMP Workshops are held for two and a half hours, once a week, for six weeks, in community se ngs such as senior centers, churches, libraries and hospitals. People with different chronic health problems a end together. Workshops are facilitated by two trained leaders, one or both of whom are non‐health professionals with chronic diseases themselves. Subjects covered include: 1) techniques to deal with problems such as frustra on, fa gue, pain and isola on, 2) appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility, and endurance, 3) appropriate use of medica ons, 4) communica ng effec vely with family, friends, and health professionals, 5) nutri on, and 6) how to evaluate new treatments. To find out more informa on about upcoming workshops, please contact Lauren Pfrogner at 706‐256‐2950.

Bicycle & Pedestrian Planner, Julio Portillo

Lauren Pfrogner (far left) and Gary Gordon (far right) pictured with CDSMP Participants

There is an effort to gauge interest and commitment from as many coun es as possible in the River Valley Region for an aerial imagery flight to take place in early 2014. At this me we are trying to determine how many coun es in the region are interested in par cipa ng. The more coun es we have sharing the cost, the be er for all of us. The cost could vary widely depending on the resolu on of the images and, most importantly, the total number of square miles captured during the flight. For budge ng purposes, $135 per square mile can be used. If you think your county might be interested in par cipa ng please call Mariyana Kostova at 1‐877‐819‐6348 or email at [email protected].

Aerial Imagery Flight for 2014


“Prison-to-Peanuts” makes lasting impression

On Saturday, April 28th, Bike/Ped Staff Members Julio Por llo and Kayra Velez, in conjunc on with Sumter Cycling Inc. and the Na onal Park Service, hosted the first “Prison to Peanuts” Park‐to‐Park Bicycle Adventure. The 32‐mile

bike ride began in Andersonville at the Andersonville Na onal Historic Site, con nued through the city of Americus, and ended in downtown Plains near the Jimmy Carter Na onal Historic Site. Over 100 riders par cipated and several were already talking

about a ending next year’s event. A er the ride was over, par cipants enjoyed shopping in downtown Plains and live music from the Georgia Southwestern State University Jazz Band. The ride was put on to showcase some of the na onal parks that our region has to offer, in addi on to highligh ng a great bicycle route (with hopes of receiving designa on from the Georgia Department of Transporta on (GDOT) as a state bicycle route). Plans are already underway for next year’s event, and staff hopes to make the event even bigger!

Participants biking into Americus at this year’s Prison to Peanuts

Bike Adventure

RVRC Councilmen Receive Positions on ACCG Board

At the Associa on County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) Annual Conference, held from April 28th to April 30th of this year, Clinton Perry, the current Vice Chair of the River Valley Regional Commission Council, was named the new president of the ACCG for the 2012‐2013 term. ACCG is a membership services associa on that works on behalf of Georgia’s county governments. Formed in 1914, ACCG represents all 159 county governments in Georgia. Perry earned his degree in psychology from Tuskegee University. He served eight years in the United States Army and was honorably discharged as a Captain in the Intelligence Branch in 1992. He is a member of several civic, social, and professional organiza ons such as Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Freerun 518th Masonic Lodge and the Georgia Prison Wardens Associa on (GPWA). In addi on to serving on the ACCG board and as the Vice Chair of the RVRC Council, he is also on the Taylor County Board of Commissioners and is the superintendent for the Department of Correc ons McEver Proba on Deten on Center. In addi on to Perry’s appointment, RVRC Council Chair Terrell Hudson was reappointed as the 8th District Representa ve, and RVRC Council Member J. Harry Lange was reappointed as an At‐Large Representa ve. Congratula ons to Clinton, Terry, and Harry!

(left to right) RVRC Council Chair Terrell Hudson, RVRC

Council Member Harry Lange, and RVRC Vice Chair & ACCG

President Clinton Perry

On Wednesday, May 23, 2012, the River Valley Regional Commission hosted the third annual Legisla ve Apprecia on Luncheon in Buena Vista, Georgia. Several local and state representa ves were in a endance. Jennings Palmer (region 8 representa ve for the 2012 TSPLOST) and Saralyn Stafford (Assistant Commissioner for DCA) were the guest speakers for the event.

RVRC Hosts Annual Legislative Appreciation Luncheon

Comprehensive Economic

Development Strategy The RVRC is currently developing the 2013‐2018 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for our 16‐county region. This involves iden fying and priori zing goals and objec ves for the region that will s mulate job crea on and reten on, encourage business start‐up and expansion, and increase the tax base. Another part of the process includes iden fying projects within each county that will further the goals and objec ves. If you know of projects which should be included in the CEDS, please contact Ka e Howard at [email protected] or 706‐256‐2910. These projects can be short‐term or long‐term in reference to when they will occur. Workforce development projects should also be considered.

RVRC Assistant Executive Director Sarah Walls, DCA Region 8 Team GA Manager Jo Childers, Guest Speaker Saralyn Stafford, and RVRC Executive

Director Patti Cullen

RVRC Council Chair Terrell Hudson and Senator George

Hooks

George Lee, George Moore, Patty Bentley, Wally Summers, and

Senator George Hooks


The 2012 TSPLOST is an opportunity for local ci zens in our region to take control of our future by choosing to make the necessary investments in transporta on projects that will create jobs in the region and make our roads safer. The vote for this 1 percent regional sales tax will take place on July 31, 2012 across the State of Georgia. If the TSPLOST passes in the River Valley Region every penny raised in the region will be spent on local projects. The TSPLOST is projected to generate $594,061,269.00 over a ten year period. Seventy‐five percent of the money will be spent on 23 regional projects (see list below) and the remaining 25% will be returned to the region to be used for local projects chosen by city and county officials. Ci es and coun es will receive the 25% funds based on a formula using their popula on and the number of road miles in each jurisdic on.

SPECIAL ARTICLE:

What is the 2012 TSPLOST?

County Project Name/Description TIA Amount

Crisp U.S. 280 Widening from Crisp County Line to SR 300 Connector $32,899,573

Crisp US Hwy 280 Bridge Reconstruc on over Lake Blackshear $30,000,000

Dooly US 41 ‐ Passing Lanes and Traffic Signals $6,930,000

Harris SR 1/US 27 Northbound Passing Lane $2,950,973

Harris SR 1/US 27 Widening from Turnberry Lane/Muscogee to Gatlin/Harris $20,000,000

Harris SR 103 passing lane from MP 11.8 to Troup County Line OPTION 2 $4,479,598

Macon Passing Lanes for State Route 224 $6,875,000

Macon Replace the State Route 128 Bridge over Whitewater Creek $2,500,000

Macon Widening of East Railroad Street $209,424

Muscogee Buena Vista Road Interchange $47,670,000

Muscogee Columbus River Walk $10,000,000

Muscogee Cusseta and Old Cusseta Road Improvements/Road Widening Project $58,269,412

Muscogee Intercity Express Bus Park‐N‐Ride Service $22,400,000

Muscogee Intersec on Improvements along Buena Vista Road (Columbus Spider Web Network)

$40,000,000

Muscogee South Lumpkin Mul ‐Use Facility $3,500,000

Muscogee SR 219 Passing Lanes from Luther Land Bridge to Happy Hollow Road Improvements

$17,690,438

Muscogee US 27/Custer Road Interchange Reconstruc on/Modifica on at Fort Benning

$20,000,000

Randolph Bridge Replacement SR 1/US 27 @ Ga/Ala RR $813,177

Randolph SR 1/US 27 Widening from CR 153/Carnegie Vilulah Road to Cuthbert Bypass

$31,742,135

Sumter Improvements to South Ga. Tech Parkway from Hwy 49 (east term.) to US 19 (west term.)

$15,000,000

Sumter Improvements to District Line Road from Hwy 49 (N. term.) to U.S. 280 (S. term.)

$10,000,000

Talbot Pobiddy Rd Resurfacing and Improvements $3,325,000

Taylor Bickley Rd. at Patsiligia Creek Tributary Bridge Replacement $500,000


WIA Participant Spotlight

D T Darnell Tillman is a 2011 graduate of the WIA‐funded GED Plus program at Paxen Learning Center called “The Zone”. Darnell is a young husband and father, and wanted to earn his GED creden al to improve his life and the life of his family. During his classes at The Zone, he worked second shi at a local grocery store and helped his wife with middle‐of‐the‐night infant wake‐ups, all while

managing to study for his GED test. Despite these challenges, Darnell passed all of his GED tests the first me he took them. Today, Darnell is working full‐ me as a cook at Terry Ho’s Hibachi Express. According to Michael Hughes, franchise owner of the restaurant, Darnell is an exemplary employee. Darnell is also taking classes in Criminal Jus ce because he wants to become a proba on officer. When Darnell was a teenager, he faced some troubles, and his proba on officer helped him to understand the importance of making the right choices and working hard for what he wants. This has inspired Darnell to influence young people to make good decisions and to work hard to achieve their goals.

L M

Lonnie Mercer (le , pictured with Dr. John Wa ord of South Georgia Technical College) had dreams of pursuing a career in law enforcement, so he enrolled at South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) in the Criminal Jus ce program and later a ained an Associates Degree. He then enrolled in the SGTC Law Enforcement Academy (LEA) in 2012, where he earned his Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Cer fica on. Lonnie enrolled in the Middle Flint WIA program in 2012 while in the LEA program. SGTC WIA Coordinator Sandhya Muljibhai stated that Lonnie was a great par cipant to have in the WIA program. WIA staff are very proud of Lonnie’s achievements. The SGTC LEA Instructor said that Lonnie showed dedica on to complete a program that required him to show resolve, determina on, and perseverance. Lonnie plans to con nue his educa on by pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Jus ce at Clayton State University. He hopes to get a job at Clayton State’s campus security department while he con nues his educa on. A er gradua on from Clayton State University, he would like to return to the local area and work in law enforcement or as a federal inves gator. Lonnie is a great example of what someone can accomplish when they dream, learn and apply themselves to their goal. He is well on his way to accomplishing his dream of a career in law enforcement.

River Valley citizens graduate from Georgia Academy for

Economic Development On May 30, 2012, the Georgia Academy for Economic Development graduated 37 people from Region 8, the River Valley Region. Class par cipants represented a number of professional and non‐professional economic development fields, including elected officials, public servants, business leaders, educators, and social service providers from our 16‐county region. The Academy, a four‐session program taught over four months, provided each of the graduates an opportunity to gain a unique understanding of the complexi es of economic and community development on local, regional, and state levels. Some of the topics covered during these sessions included economic and community development, business recruitment and reten on, tourism product development, downtown development, quality planning, redevelopment, and other essen als for community success. Par cipants also explored the importance of ethics, team building, collabora on, and leadership styles. The next Region 8 Georgia Academy for Economic Development will begin in February of 2013 on the campus of South Georgia Technical College in Americus. If you, or anyone you know, may be interested in a ending, please contact Jo Childers at 229‐924‐3707 or by email at [email protected].

The River Valley Area Agency on Aging Caregiver Conference was held at the Columbus Library May 10, 2012. A er opening remarks from AAA Staff, City Council Member Jerry “Pops” Barnes started the program with an inspiring and realis c look into the reali es of Caregiving. This year featured speakers from the Rosalyn Carter Ins tute, Magnolia Manor Alzheimer’s Program, and the Georgia Cares Program. Break‐out sessions were presented on topics

such as long‐term care, caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, and how to care for the actual caregiver. Gail Alston from the Rosalyn Carter Ins tute for Caregiving gave an emo onal, personal account of her experience in caring for her mother who suffers from demen a. Seventy (70) people a ended the conference, which has been the highest number of par cipants to‐date!

AAA hosts annual Caregiver Conference

AAA Staff Gary Gordon & GACares Volunteer

Akeya Johnson presenting at this year’s

Caregiver Conference

WIA Participants Receive GED

June is a special month for many WIA par cipants enrolled in the GED Plus services; par cipants who have earned their GED (General Educa on Diploma) have the opportunity to dress in caps and gowns, have their name called out, and walk across the stage in front of family and friends, and be handed their GED Diplomas by Technical College officials. Technical colleges’ Adult Literacy programs sponsor this important event each year for their GED candidates. WIA par cipants have worked hard to be able to earn their GED, and it gives them a sense of accomplishment and pride when they have the opportunity par cipate in the GED gradua on ceremony. Pictured above are three WIA par cipants, shown with Paxen GED Instructor Renee Fedrick, who earned their GED through WIA‐funded services provided by the Paxen Learning GED Plus program. Ms. Fedrick is a very important part of assis ng par cipants in preparing for the GED exam by providing classroom remedia on and tutoring on each of the five subject areas of the exam. Word Readiness and so skills training is also incorporated with GED remedia on ac vity to enhance employment opportuni es. Congratula ons to all of the GED graduates!


RVRC Represented at GFOA Annual Conference Emily Chambers, Finance Officer in the Columbus RVRC office, a ended the Government Finance Officers Associa on (GFOA) Annual Conference in Chicago, Illinois from June 10‐13th. While there, she had the opportunity to hear Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s keynote address in which he expressed his belief that ci es must invest in infrastructure and educa on in order to grow. Emily also a ended several helpful training sessions relevant to her work at the River Valley Regional Commission on topics such as governmental accoun ng changes, grants management, and indirect costs. She brought back some ideas on how to improve the RVRC’s internal controls and procedures and gained valuable insight on ways to decrease the chances of audit findings. In addi on to training and governmental accoun ng updates, the

conference also provided a chance to visit over 150 exhibitors ranging from so ware publishers, to banks, and consul ng service companies. Contact with these companies allows the RVRC staff to remain abreast of developments in technology and accoun ng so ware, trends in benefits management, and improvements in financial repor ng prac ces. GFOA is a North American organiza on with over 17,000 members whose mission is to enhance and promote the professional management of governmental financial resources by iden fying, developing, and advancing fiscal strategies, policies, and prac ces for the public benefit. Emily has been a member of GFOA for four years and feels that their networking and training opportuni es are unsurpassed.

Safe Routes to School Program closes out

successful year The 2012 fiscal year was very busy for the Safe Routes to School Program. RVRC Staff Kayra Velez and Julio Por llo worked with a total of 10 schools this year in order to write comprehensive travel plans that will ensure increases in walking and biking at each school. Nine of these schools were included in one master comprehensive plan for the MidTown Columbus area, which included 6 elementary schools, 2 middles schools, and a center for the gi ed. Georgetown Elementary & Middle School in Quitman County was the other school for which a comprehensive travel plan was wri en. Both of these master plans were completed on June 30th of this year and will be given to each school in order for them to implement the Encouragement & Educa on ac vi es that will get children excited about walking and biking to school. These schools also par cipated in Interna onal Walk to School Day, which took place in October, and Georgia Walk to School day in March. As the new fiscal year approaches, staff plans to work with L.K. Moss Elementary in Buena Vista. For more informa on on this program, please contact Julio Por llo or Kayra Velez at 706‐256‐2910.

Participants listening to a presentation at this year’s

GFOA Conference in Chicago

(Left to Right, graduates) Mariah Smith, Samuel Ross, Brandon Mays

P. O. Box 1908 1428 Second Avenue Columbus, GA 31902 Phone: 706‐256‐2910 Fax: 706‐256‐2908 228 West Lamar Street Americus, GA 31709 Phone: 706‐256‐2910 Fax: 229‐931‐2745 Chair—Terrell Hudson Execu ve Director—Pa Cullen Newsle er Editor—Kayra Velez E‐mail: [email protected]

Delivering Our Region’s Progress We’re on the web!

www.rivervalleyrc.org

RVRC Staff Julio Por llo and Kayra Velez experienced great success with the execu on of the 2012 Bike to Work Day events. This year the event was held for the second me in the city of Americus, and the fourth me in the city of

Columbus. Early Friday morning on May 18th in Americus, and again on May 25th in Columbus, energizing sta ons were set up to greet riders as they made their morning commutes to work. Columbus Staff hosted three energizing sta ons, located at the Fall Line Trace (Rails to Trails) by Hannan Elementary, Lakebo om Park, and the Riverwalk by Oxbow Meadows. Other sta ons were hosted at both of the AFLAC campuses in Columbus as well as TSYS. Americus Staff hosted one sta on located on the front lawn of the Public Safety Building.

All riders were greeted with fresh fruit, granola bars, and water bo les to help them power through their morning commutes. The city of Columbus greeted over 100 riders during their morning commute, including RVRC Execu ve Director Pa Cullen, and Americus greeted 50. The fun con nued in the a ernoon with a 2nd Annual Ride with

the Mayor in both Americus and Columbus, and a post‐ride block party where each mayor formally introduced their respec ve area’s new non‐profit cycling organiza ons: Sumter Cycling Inc. (Americus) and Bicycle Columbus Inc. (Columbus). The successful events are a culmina on of year‐long planning done by each city’s Bicycle & Pedestrian Planning Advisory Commi ees, who all worked very hard to make the event a success in each city.

Bike to Work Day—another successful year!

RVRC Staff Tiffany Ingram, Lance Renfrow, Julio Portillo, Tina Rust, and Patti Cullen on Bike to Work

Day

RVRC Council Members

Appointed to GMA Board

The RVRC region is well represented on the 2012 Georgia Municipal Associa on (GMA) leadership team. Elected to the GMA Board of Directors at the their Annual Mee ng, held from June 23‐26, 2012 in Savannah, were the following:

First Vice President: Beth English, Councilmember, Vienna

Director at Large: Teresa Tomlinson, Mayor, Columbus (RVRC Council Member);

8th District President: Jeanie Bartee, Commissioner, Cordele

First Vice President: Charles Gibson, Mayor, Lumpkin (RVRC Council Member)

Congratula ons!

THE VALLEY QUARTERLY Newsletter.pdf · 2017. 6. 1. · WIC approved farmer and farmers’ market....

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