*A pep rally parade, street dance, food truck, and games will take over downtown Flowery Branch Aug. 2 for a Back 2 School block party for the area's four high schools - Flowery Branch, Cherokee Bluff, Johnson and West Hall. The four-hour event begins at 6:30. More details can be found here.
*Rev. Ryan C. Snider has been named chaplain at Young Harris College. Prior to joining YHC, he served as senior pastor at Oak Hill United Methodist Church in Candler, North Carolina.
*Weekly Sautee-Naccochee Community Association update.
*Riverstreet will close out The Arts Council’s Summer MusicFest 2019 August 3 on the lawn of the Smithgall Arts Center in Gainesville. Concert begins at 8:00; gates open at 6:30 for picnickers. Rain date: Sep. 14. For tickets call 770.534.2787 or visit www.TheArtsCouncil.net.
*Forsyth County Chief Information Officer Brandon Kenney has been named a finalist for the Georgia CIO of the Year Award in the Nonprofit/Public Sector category. The award is given annually to recognize technology executives for their leadership, innovation, and excellence. This year's winner will be announced Nov. 8.
*With school beginning in most places in the area in August, the Splash Pad at Laurel Park will change hours of operation Beginning Monday, July 29, it will be open on weekends only and will close after Labor Day. It will be open on Sept. 7, however, but exclusively for dogs. More details will be coming soon.
*U.S. Forest Service daily Off-Highway Vehicle passes for the Chattahoochee and Oconee National Forests, Blue Ridge Ranger District, can now be purchased at the following locations: Davenport OHV Area - Nottely Food Mart, 5916 Murphy Highway, Blairsville; Whissenhunt OHV Area - Clay Creek Falls Grocery Store, 2261 Oak Grove Road, Dahlonega; and, Beasley Knob OHV Area – Chevron, 430A Young Harris Highway, Blairsville. More information is available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/conf/recreation/ohv or by calling the Blue Ridge Ranger District at 706-745-6928.
