🌱 Council Selects Park Contractor + Marietta Donates $500,000

Hello, everybody! It's me, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Daily. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening in the community today.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy; breezy, cooler. High: 41 Low: 31.

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Here are the top three stories in Sandy Springs today:

1. The Sandy Springs City Council recently selected the contractor that will be in charge of the final phase of construction for Veterans Park. The $399,492 contract will be with the construction firm Reeves Young. The initial final budget for the park is estimated to be around $4.7 million with final cost estimates due in March. (Subscription: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
2. In nearby Marietta, the Marietta City Council presented a $500,000 donation to Habitat for Humanity. The money is meant to fund the city's public service housing program to potentially fund six affordable homes for employees of the city and the school district. (FOX 5 Atlanta)
3. A new museum down the road in Roswell will display items from the history of the area, including the history of the first European settlers, enslaved people and the indigenous peoples. Items on display include census schedules, a bill of sale for slavery, and other items involved in the slave trade. The ribbon-cutting and opening of the new Roswell History Museum took place on Wednesday, and the museum will now be open Wednesday through Saturday from 3:00-7:00 p.m. (Subscription: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Today in and around Sandy Springs:

• Atlanta/Marietta Bead Show At Cobb County Civic Center, Marietta (10:00 AM)
• Atlanta Comedy Tour At Monticello ATL, Marietta (5:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Now is the perfect time to bring home a new furry family member for the new year! Check out this week's roundup of adoptable pets in the Sandy Springs area and learn more about Magic, Miley, Eckhart, and more adorable pets just waiting for their forever homes. (Sandy Springs Patch)
• The Sandy Springs Police Department would like to let Sandy Springs residents know that they are able to text 911 in emergencies where they can't call. However, calling will give 911 call centers more information, so it's better to make a voice call during an emergency when possible. (Sandy Springs Police via Facebook)
• Sandy Springs welcomed the new location of the Piedmont Cancer Institute with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The institute has multiple locations with Sandy Springs being its newest to open and offers a skilled treatment team to address individualized cancer treatment plans for patients. (Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber via Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with a new update.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.