🌱 Late Cobb Officer Honored + Atkins Park Smyrna's Live Music Nights

Hello, everybody! I'm here with your Friday edition of the Smyrna-Vinings Patch newsletter, filled with all the community information you need to know right now.

But first, today's weather:

Humid with a thunderstorm. High: 88 Low: 73.

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

1. Officer Robert Ingram, the first Cobb County police officer to lose his life in the line of duty 30 years ago, was honored by family and friends early Thursday morning. Ingram, who was only 24 years old when he was shot while responding to a suspicious person report, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Valor by his department. In a commemoration held at the intersection of Marble Hill Road and Marr Avenue, where Officer Ingram lost his life, loved ones and members of the Cobb County Police Department came together to light candles and share anecdotes about the fallen officer. (FOX 5 Atlanta)
2. The City of Smyrna will hold a Joint Ward Meeting for city updates on Wards 1, 2, and 3 on Tuesday, Aug. 29. The meeting at A. Max Bacon City Hall, which is free and open to the public, begins at 6:30 p.m. Glenn Pickens (Ward 1), Latonia P. Hines (Ward 2), and Travis Lindley (Ward 3) will be present to share their remarks. (City of Smyrna, GA Government via Facebook)
3. Looking for some live music (and delicious Southern/Creole fare) this summer? Atkins Park Smyrna is hosting three Live Music Nights on Fridays in July, beginning tonight (Jul. 14) at 9:00 p.m. with tunes from the Francisco Vidal Band. If you can't make it out tonight, there will be performances on Jul. 21 by the Jacob Harshman Band and on Jul. 28 by the Alex Patrick Band. (Atkins Park Smyrna via AllEvents)

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Today in Smyrna-Vinings:

Friday, July 14

• Kids Eat Free At Varners Tavern (All Day)
• Weekday Furniture Showroom Event At Trifecta Home Furniture - Vinings (10:00 AM)
• Tweens: Creativity Club At Smyrna Public Library (3:00 PM)
• Karaoke Freestyle Night At Mix Major (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Looking to add a furry friend to your household? Meet Cece and DeDe the Husky-Pomeranian mix puppies, Ivan the black kitten, and more adorable, adoptable pets available now in shelters in and around the Smyrna-Vinings area. (Smyrna-Vinings Patch)
• Registration is open for the fall season of Smyrna's men's and co-ed softball leagues. Games will be held at Tolleson Park, starting the week of Aug. 7 and running through October. (City of Smyrna, GA Government via Facebook)
• If you haven't solidified your weekend plans yet, there's plenty going on across the Atlanta metro — from "Shark Week" luau to free gelato in Grant Park. (FOX 5 Atlanta)

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• 3hr Salsa Boot Camp Atlanta - Beginner / Beyond Basic Sat July 15, 2023 (July 15)
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You're all caught up 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.