CHRISTMAS ON THE RIVER FEATURES THE LIGHTING OF THE COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TREE

Santa Claus is coming to town and will make his first visit to Bainbridge at Christmas on the River on the River on Thursday, December 2.  Head out to Earle May Boat Basin at 6:00 p.m. for live music by local choirs, dancing by Lucretia’s School of Dance and Murkerson’s Dance Academy, hay rides, marshmallow roasts and to see the lighting of the community Christmas tree. Don’t miss the fun as we kick off a month full of fun holiday activities in Bainbridge.

For more information about Christmas on the River or any of the City of Bainbridge’s holiday events, call 229-248-2000 or visit www.bainbridgecity.com.

Bill Reynolds #3

The new ball fields are nearing completion at the Bill Reynolds Sports Complex.  These photos were taken by Diane Atkinson when the lights were being tested.

Deadline for Christmas Parade approaching!!!

Deadline for entering the Christmas Parade is Monday, November 29th. Please don't delay!!!!

Downtown Development Authority increases amount for facade grants

The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has a façade grant program available to properties located within its boundaries.  During the November board meeting, the board increased the limit of its façade grant to a maximum amount of $1500 per building with the DDA paying up to 50% of invoiced price.

Improvements that qualify for façade incentive assistance

1.                        New paint applied to existing painted exterior walls.

2.                        Replacements or additions of awnings to facades.

3.                        Door and window improvements.

4.                        Replacement or improvement to existing signs.

5.                        New façade applications to damaged or visually unpleasant exterior walls.

6.                        Renovations which compliment the historic characteristics of buildings.

7.                        Replacement of or uncovering of architectural features of buildings (ex. The removal of tin to uncover original brick façade).

To obtain a Façade Grant Application, please contact the

Main Street

office at 248-2000 or you may download an application from www.bainbridgecity.com.

2010 Holiday Open House Winner

2010 Holiday Open House Winner

Congratulations to Nichole Lee of Bainbridge, Georgia.  She is the winner of the 2010 grand prize drawing for Holiday Open House.  Nichole won over $400 worth of gift certificates from merchants that participated in Holiday Open House on November 21, 2010.  The lucky slip was drawn from Reeves Linens & Gifts.

1903 Fordham Hotel (Nelson Building) underwent slight facelift

The Downtown Development Authority of Bainbridge (DDA) recently repainted the first floor of the 1903 Fordham Hotel (Nelson Building) located at 301 East Water Street.  The DDA purchased the property five years ago from Mr. Nelson.  Since the DDA acquired the property, the roof has been replaced, the back wall stabilized, and installed new floor joists on the first floor.  If you are interested in purchasing the 1903 Fordham Hotel, please contact Amanda Glover at 229-248-2000 ext. 123.

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 21

The City of Bainbridge is kicking off the 2010 holiday season with Holiday Open House on November 21.  Downtown merchants will be open and offer great gifts and awesome deals from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. 

Once again, Mary Barber Cox will be in Willis Park signing ornaments for everyone!  This year’s ornament features the entrance of Oak City Cemetery.  Ornaments will be available at Holiday Open House, or you can purchase them now at City Hall in the Community Development Office.  Individual ornaments are $8.00, or you can purchase the full set of Bainbridge ornaments for $160. 

This year’s Holiday Open House Participants are: The Bean Cafe, Belk’s, Bella’s Boutique, Factory Connection, Godwin’s Jewelers, Isabee’s, Jacobik Antiques, Kres Jewelers, LTL Flowers and Gifts, Polka Dots Gift Shop, Reeve’s Linens and Gifts, Sharon House Antiques, Southern Trading Co. & Pawn Shop, Special Occasions, The Sweet Spot and The Tanning Company and Tina Brock Gifts. 

Remember to BUY BAINBRIDGE during the holidays.  Purchasing holiday gifts locally means that your hard earned money stays in the community where it can do the most good. 

For more information on Bainbridge Ornaments, Holiday Open House or any of the City of Bainbridge’s holiday activities, call 229-248-2000 or visit www.bainbridgecity.com.

Public Access Channel 17 has moved to Channel 96

The City of Bainbridge has used Mediacom's public access channel 17 to publish community events and city information for many years.  As you may have noticed, the information is no longer posted on Channel 17; however, you may view the information on Channel 96.

To receive the programming requires a digital-ready TV, a Mediacom digital receiver or a Mediacom digital adapter.  

Please contact Mediacom’s local office for further details.   

Holiday Hours

The Bill Reynolds Tennis Center will be closed for the Thanksgiving Holiday November 24-26.

The facility will also be closed for Christmas December 24, 25, 26 and New Year's December 31 and January 1.

Adult Tennis

We are finishing up our men's and women's USTA league season. It does not seem like it is the same year, considering that when we started the season we were in 100 degree heat and now the temperature has dropped considerably and now we are playing in warm-ups. With the conclusion of one season it leads to the opening of the next. Mixed doubles will start next month with registration opening soon. If you want to be a captain or are interested in finding a team please give contact us so we can pass your information along to captains and the league coordinator.

Tournaments

We have scheduled our annual tournaments for 2011. The Polar Bear will be January 15 and 16 offering singles and doubles. For those of you wanting to play mixed doubles get ready for our Valentine Tournament February 12 and 13. As always for these tournaments plan on a good time, good food and members playing FREE!

 Juniors

We will not have clinics the week of Thanksgiving November 22-26.

Our junior tennis players are stepping up their games. To start our competitive season off we had a Halloween dress up pizza party which was tons of fun. Then for the next four Friday's over twenty of our junior players have been competing in a round robin format, playing both singles and doubles. Play is for all levels because of the use of low compression balls and adapted shortened lines, if you know a junior player who wants to get involved now is the time. Check out these pictures from our Halloween party.

Beginning in 2011 clinics will be paid monthly for all but The Advanced Academy clinics. This will help us keep better attendance records. If your child misses a paid class it will be carried over to the next month. 

Mini Tournament

To wrap up this competitive season we will have a tournament with 60 foot lines and low compression balls. This tournament is for players with little experience who are between the ages of 7-10. We will have a light lunch for everyone and trophies for the winner. Play will begin at 9:00 Saturday December 11. If your child is interested please click on the link to enroll.

Click to enroll 

Holiday Camp

With the High School and Middle School tennis seasons just around the corner we will be offering a tennis camp during the Christmas break.  It will be Monday December 27-30 from 9:30-11:30. Kids from all around the area are invited to attend. We will have competitive matches, dynamic drills and plyometric exercises to work out to.

Click to enroll

See you on the courts,

Tim Thompson

Bainbridge Tennis Director

www.bainbridgetennis.com

CITY OFFICES CLOSED NOVEMBER 25 AND 26

City of Bainbridge offices will be closed on Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.  Offices will reopen on Monday, November 29. 

No residential garbage collection will be affected by the holiday.  However, because of the large amount of trash accumulated over the holiday, dumpsters will be set up at Bainbridge Public Safety on

Shotwell Street

as well as the Public Works Department on

Pierce Street

until Monday, December 27 for anyone needing to use them. 

Mayor's Motorcade Rummage Sale

The City of Bainbridge will have the Mayor's Motorcade Rummage sale again Saturday, November 13 from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Kwilecki Building next door to City Hall.  If you missed out last Saturday please don't forget to come this weekend for great deals on clothing, shoes, baby items, men & women's apparel etc.

MORE CHANGES

Downtown is getting spruced up just a little more before the holidays begin!! The lights from Phase One of the Streetscape Project (around the square and along S. Broad St.) are being changed to match the new lights from Phase Two!

Pumpkins in the Park

Thanks to everyone who came to Willis Park for Pumpkins in the Park.  We had a great turnout and the kids seemed to have so much fun trick-or-treating, riding on the hayrides and participating in the contests. 
 

0-24 months winners: 

1^st Place – (Lady Bugs) Madison & McKenna Whitley

2^nd  Place – (Bride & Groom) Mercy Williams & Gunner Powell

3^rd Place – (Jack In The Box) Dalton Brock



3-5 year old winers:

1^st Place – (Nurse) Addison Moore

2^nd Place (Cowboy) Shelby Copeland

3^rd Place  (Mermaid) Elisa Donez

6-8 year old winners:

1^st Place – (Billy the Exterminator) Kameron Adams

2^nd Place (Scare Crow) Dawson Carver

3^rd Place  (Dorothy) Macie Ezell

9-12 year old winners:

1^st Place – (Mime) Emily Chambers

2^nd Place (Marilyn Monroe) Payton Anderson

3^rd Place  (Box of Kleenex) Parker Miller

Pumpkin Carving Contest Winners:

Ages 3 – 5 Kenny Barton

Ages 6 – 8 Kennedy Jackson (not pictured)

Ages 9 – 11 Cloe VunCannon

Ages 12 – 14 Angel Grover

Ages 15 & Over Sara Dollar

NOVEMBER KICKS OFF CITY'S HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

The City had an extremely successful October, welcoming Governor Perdue to cut the ribbon on our Mega Ramp project, followed by three bass tournaments that totaled over 450 boats and created an estimated economic impact of over $2 million.  With the assistance of American Bass Anglers, the Bainbridge Convention and Visitors Bureau also hosted Bainbridge’s first BBQ Cookoff and Festival, which was a big success.  Thank you to everyone who came out to support Cookoff and to support all of the anglers who were in town.  Some of them stayed for two or three weeks straight to fish multiple tournaments, and many of them commented on the great hospitality they were greeted with while in town. 

November starts a very busy holiday season in Bainbridge!  This Saturday, November 6 marks the last Downtown Market of the year.  The Market will be open in Willis Park from 9:00 a.m. – 12 noon.  The City will also be holding its first Mayors’ Christmas Motorcade Rummage Sale on November 6 from 7:00 a.m. – 12 noon in the Kwilecki Building (the old Fixture Exchange) next to City Hall.  The money raised from the Rummage Sale will go towards buying Christmas gifts for patients at Southwestern State Hospital.  Mayors’ Christmas Motorcade is an annual event sponsored by GMA that the City of Bainbridge supports. 

On Tuesday, November 9, the City of Bainbridge will host a brainstorming session to discuss ideas for things for youth to do in the area.  This meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. at Potter Street Community Center and is open to anyone who would like to attend.

We are also getting ready for Holiday Open House.  This is the official kick off for all of the City’s holiday activities.  Holiday Open House is scheduled for Sunday, November 21 from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.  Most of the downtown merchants will be open and offering great sales to kick off the holiday shopping season.  There will also be a drawing for a gift basket with goodies in it from the participating merchants.  Don’t forget to purchase this year’s Bainbridge ornament, which features Oak City Cemetery.  Mary Barber Cox will be in Willis Park during the day to sign ornaments.  Individual ornaments cost $8 or you can buy the entire set of Bainbridge Christmas Ornaments for $160. 

City Offices will be closed on Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26 for the Thanksgiving Holidays.  Offices will resume normal business hours on Monday, November 29.  Residential trash pick up will not be affected by the holiday, so follow your normal schedule for this.

The City has many events scheduled for December as well. Be sure to mark your calendars for these upcoming dates and be on the lookout for more information about them: Christmas on the River, December 2 at 6:00 p.m.; Christmas Parade, December 9 at 7:00 p.m.; and Christmas on the Square, December 16 at 5:00 p.m. Applications for floats in the Christmas Parade are now online at the City’s website, or you can pick one up from City Hall.  The deadline to enter a float in the parade in Monday, November 29. 

For more information on any of the events listed above, be sure to visit the City’s website, http://www.bainbridgecity.com/, or our blog, http://www.bainbridgecity.blogspot.com/.  You can also find information on cable Channel 17 or our facebook page.  Happy Holidays!

ASK THE MAYOR - NOVEMBER 2010

Dear Mayor Reynolds,

What is the City’s holiday schedule and how will it affect my trash pick up?

All City of Bainbridge offices will be closed on November 25 and 26 for Thanksgiving, December 23 and 24 for Christmas Holidays, and on December 31 for the New Year’s Holiday.  Since these at the end of the week, your household garbage collection should not be affected. 

However, for holidays that do fall on a Monday (like Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday in January), everyone’s trash pick up is pushed back a day.  So if your garbage is usually collected on a Monday, but the City is closed on Monday, your garbage will be collected on Tuesday.  If your garbage is usually collected on Tuesday, it will be picked up on Wednesday.  Generally, commercial pick up is not affected for a Monday holiday.

With the extra garbage that is sure to pile up with the upcoming Christmas holidays, the City’s Public Works Department will be placing dumpsters at Bainbridge Public Safety on

Shotwell Street

and at the Public Works department on

Pierce Street

for the public to use.

As always, all garbage collection information is posted on the City’s Channel (Channel 17 on cable), on their website http://www.bainbridgecity.com/ and on the City’s new blog, http://www.bainbridgecity.blogspot.com/.  If you ever have a question about your garbage pick up, check one of these!

Sincerely,

Mayor Reynolds