🌱 No. 1 Airbnb Property In GA + Fulton Provides COVID-19 Home Test

Hello, friends! Danielle Fallon-O'Leary here with your fresh copy of the Smyrna-Vinings Patch newsletter, filled with all the local information you need to know right now.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy, a little rain. High: 57 Low: 43.

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I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

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

1. A detached garage in Smyrna earned the No. 1 spot for travelers in the state. The "Smyrna Sunhouse" made Virginia Harper the best Airbnb host in Georgia. Harper was inspired to become a host when she saw how well a friend did with a basement space as an Airbnb rental and decided to purchase her next house with that in mind. The sun house is a detached garage with all the necessities for a short-term rental space. (WSB Atlanta)
2. Declarence McGhee returned to court Thursday morning after being charged with kidnapping battery. The incident occurred in April 2022 as 31-year-old McGhee approached a babysitter walking with the infant in a stroller along a popular trail near North Avenue and began to yell at the babysitter before trying to take the stroller with the child. Luckily while fighting off McGhee, other bystanders (including security guards and an off-duty Fulton County official) could detain him until Atlanta police arrived at the scene. Since 2008, McGhee has been arrested more than two dozen times in Fulton and Dekalb counties for various charges. In 2022, McGhee's defense filed a motion questioning his competency to stand trial in November 2022. (FOX 5 Atlanta)
3. The Fulton County Board of Health and the Fulton County Government are joining forces to provide more free COVID-19 home testing kits. Testing kits are accessible to residents visiting Fulton health centers, county libraries, senior centers, and other government facilities. COVID-19 and influenza cases are expected to rise during winter months, so officials encourage the community to be safe and prepared for any sickness that may come their way. (On Common Ground News)

Today in Smyrna-Vinings:

• Partner Yoga Pop-Up Class At Giving Tree Yoga (6:00 PM)
• Full House Poker At Varners Restaurant And Tavern (8:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• It's time to have a great night! You can grab tickets for The Dip and Juice performance at the Georgia Theatre on Wednesday, Mar. 8 here. (Georgia Theatre via Instagram)
• If you're interested in genealogy, new genealogy books are on the way to Smyrna Library! Representatives from the Nicholas Wallingford Chapter of the Colonial Dames XVII Century dropped off a donation Wednesday to purchase books about the history of heraldry. (Friends of Smyrna Library via Facebook)
• Interested in the history of rocks, dinosaur bones, astronomy, and more? Visit this hidden gem of a museum right up the highway in Cartersville! (Rotary Club of Vinings Cumberland via Facebook)
• Severe weather can cause widespread devastation, and some states are more prone to disaster-related property damage than others. Due mainly to tornados and hurricanes, Georgia ranks No. 15 in the United States for total property damage, with an average of $454.03 per capita. See how our state stacks up against the rest of the country in this new interactive study. (NeighborWho)

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Featured events:

• Anna Razumovskaya Artist Show (February 18)

Other featured classifieds:

• Looking to Rent A Warehouse for 2 weeks Atlanta (Details)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Friday. 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.