🌱 Great Southeast Pollinator Census + Cobb County International Fest

Hey, neighbors! It's me, Danielle Fallon-O'Leary, your host of the Smyrna-Vinings Patch newsletter. Here's everything you need to know about what's happening in town.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 89 Low: 68.

Here are the top three stories in Smyrna-Vinings today:

1. Smyrna-Vinings residents are encouraged to take part in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census, a citizen science project created by the University of Georgia to make a difference in pollinator conservation. Use Census Counting Sheets to closely observe the insects in your own backyard. It's a fun family activity to learn more about insects and important for the local environment. (gsepc.org)
2. The Cobb County International Festival will take place on Aug. 26 at the Jim R. Miller Park & Event Center in Marietta. This year's festival pays homage to the many cultures that thrive within Cobb County, featuring an array of music, art, performances, food vendors, crafts, and children’s activities. Admission and parking are free, and you can visit the website in advance for a complete list of retail and food vendors. (Cobb County Courier)
3. On Thursday, Life University announced a new undergraduate tuition scholarship for eligible Cobb County residents. The program would provide 20 percent off the price of tuition and fees for Cobb County residents who are accepted to Life U as full-time undergraduate students with a 3.0 GPA (or greater). Life University is a health sciences institution best known for its College of Chiropractic. (East Cobber)

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Today in Smyrna-Vinings:

Saturday, August 19

• Freedom Festival At 1800 Lake Park Drive (1:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Handmade Market, taking place on Sun., Aug. 20 downtown, has announced its vendor list for the event. Click the link to learn more—the market runs from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (City of Smyrna, GA Government via Facebook)
• The Rotary Club of Vinings has awarded Annemiek Kuik the club's highest honor as the 2023 Vinings Citizen of the Year. Her resume is full of years of volunteerism, specifically with Canine Companions for Independence. Congratulations to this local hero! (Rotary Club of Vinings Cumberland via Facebook)
• Art lovers take note: down the road in Atlanta, the Spalding Nix Fine Art Gallery announced its new exhibition "THOROUGHFARE," now on view. The exhibition, on view through Sep. 8, examines pathways and connections between the spirit world and the physical world. (WABE 90.1 FM)

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That's it for today! I'll see you around.

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a content manager with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.