Chairman John Eaves and KPMG Team Up For Literacy: More than a new thousand books on the way to a Fulton County school children courtesy of KPMG

Chairman John Eaves and KPMG Team Up For Literacy

More than a new thousand books on the way to a Fulton County school children courtesy of KPMG

ATLANTA – Fulton County Board of Commissioners Chairman John Eaves is pleased to announce a generous donation of more than a thousand new books from KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax, and advisory firm. The new books will be provided to students at a KPMG Family for Literacy (KFFL) event on the campus of Fulton County’s Hamilton Holmes Elementary School on Friday, April 18, 2014 at 8:30 a.m.

This donation caps Chairman Eaves’ successful effort to collect new and used books for local schools. Prior to KPMG’s contribution, a total of 1,200 books were collected during a month-long drive in March. Books were distributed to Hamilton E. Holmes, Heritage and Thomasville Heights elementary schools and Camp Creek and Taylor Road middle schools in Fulton County.

“Young people who are avid readers are much more likely to pursue excellence in both academics and life,” said Chairman Eaves.  “I am overjoyed that both I and KPMG share the same commitment to educating our young people and encouraging them to read.”

Through KFFL, KPMG partners, professionals and interns, as well as spouses and extended family raise money, visit classrooms, read to students, and personally put new books into the hands of children. For many, the books they receive are the first they have ever owned. More than 2 million new books have been distributed to children in need through KFFL.

Chairman John H. Eaves to Listen to Crime Concerns of Midtown and Downtown Residents & Businesses

ATLANTA – As part of his ongoing dialogue with Metro Atlanta residents regarding their concerns about crime and violence, Fulton County Commission Chairman John H. Eaves will discuss those issues with residents and merchants in the city’s core business district.  Chairman Eaves will convene the third in a series of Crime and Safety Summits with those in the Midtown and Downtown Atlanta communities.  Following issues with robberies and assaults in those communities,  police, political leaders and court officials will discuss current approaches to making these “Live, Work, Play” communities safer.

“These areas of the city represent neighborhoods full of concerned homeowners as well as the nucleus of our business community,” said Chairman Eaves, adding, “It is imperative that their voices be heard.”

The meeting will be held at the Saint Mark United Methodist Church on 781 Peachtree St NE in Atlanta on Tuesday, April 22, 2014 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.  The moderator will be Fulton County Public Information Officer Lyn Vaughn.  Residents will get a chance to speak to a panel that is scheduled to include:

• Chairman John Eaves, Ph.D., Chairman, Fulton County Board of Commissioners 
• Rev. Dr. Beth LaRocca-Pitts, Senior Pastor, Saint Mark United Methodist Church 
• Judge Robert McBurney, Superior Court of Fulton County 
• Chief Judge Stephanie C. Davis, Magistrate Court 
• Chief Judge Bradley J. Boyd, Fulton County Juvenile Court 
• Chief Judge John R. Mather, Fulton County State Court
• Paul L. Howard, Jr., Fulton County District Attorney
• Major James Whitmire, Atlanta Police Department 
• Chris Leighty, Director of Public Safety, Midtown Alliance 
• Ted Jackson, Fulton County Sheriff
• Andre Dickens, Atlanta City Council Member, Post 3 At-Large

For more information on this event, contact Sojourner Marable Grimmett for Fulton County Commission Chairman John H. Eaves at (404) 612-8333.  Chairman Eaves’ office can also be reached via social media on Twitter @JohnEaves and Facebook /JohnHEaves.

'American Idol' ATL Singing Contest for Kids #TheGiftATL

2014 marks the 11^th year of The Gift™ Youth Singing Competition. The Gift is scouting singers between the ages of 12 to 16 from the greater Atlanta area looking for a career in music or performing arts. The winners will be competing to make their dreams come true and for a chance to win more than $20,000 in cash and prizes.

The three remaining open call auditions will be held at various McDonald’s restaurants on April 12 and two on April 26 throughout metro Atlanta. Three finalists from each location will be selected by a panel of judges, comprised of representatives from the music and entertainment community, to compete at a final competition this summer. Only the first 250 contestants with proper documentation will be allowed to audition at each open call audition.

Interested participants can visit www.TheGiftATL.com to download entry forms for a chance to enter The Gift competition and to review additional detailed information and rules of entry.

• Saturday, April 12, 2014, at McDonald’s located at 2791 Panola Rd., Lithonia, Ga. 30058 at noon – 3 p.m.
• Saturday, April 26, 2014, at McDonald’s located at 2700 Windy Hill Rd. Marietta, Ga. 30067 at 9 a.m. – noon
• Saturday, April 26, 2014, at McDonald’s located at 9502 Highway 5, Douglasville, Ga. 30135 at noon – 3 p.m.

Visit the Georgia Aquarium over Spring Break! @GeorgiaAquarium

Are you staying in Atlanta during Spring Break? If so, take your family to the Georgia Aquarium! We went to the Aquarium today and brought three of our cousins (who happen to be triplets) along for the adventure! 

Conveniently located in downtown Atlanta, the Georgia Aquarium is the perfect starting point for a day filled with family fun. There are 6 hotels, 5 (soon to be7!) attractions and 17 restaurants all within a 12-minute walk from the front door of Georgia Aquarium.

We were especially excited because we had the opportunity to have a behind-the-scenes tour of the world's largest aquarium. We learned about what it takes to keep the aquarium running. 

Highlights from the tour: 

• We went to the top of the live coral reef exhibit located above Tropical Diver.
• Observed where the Aquarium team cares for the animals and prepares their food at the  Commissary and Veterinary Clinic.                                                        
• Enjoyed the view at the top of the largest ocean exhibit in North America (Ocean Voyager, built by The Home Depot), and observed the world’s largest fish, the whale shark, as it swam below us!

Viewed the African penguins in the Correll Center Animal Care Suite.

We planned our visit around free activities offered throughout the day. After the guided behind-the-scences tour we went to see AT&T Dolphin Tales.

• AT&T Dolphin Tales: Choose your seats no later than 20 minutes before the show!
• Interactive Dive Shows: Tropical Diver and Ocean Voyager galleries have divers.
• Animal Feedings: Check the computer screens outside each gallery with daily feeding times for marquee animals.

Georgia Aquarium provides a beautiful backdrop for photos:

• “The Perfect Silhouette”: It is no surprise Ocean Voyager provides an artistic backdrop for a photo; many movies have chosen this gallery to feature in their films.
• “Just Another Fish in the Sea”: Many of the exhibits feature windows where children can get up close and almost look as if they are inside with some of their favorite animals. Try making a scary face inside our Piranha exhibit in River Scout!

Fun Fact: Even though whale sharks are the world's largest fish (they breathe using their gills), they can only eat krill.
The whale sharks throat is only the size of a quarter.

The Veterinary Services and Conservation Medicine Department provides veterinary medical treatment at Georgia Aquarium.

Using two fingers to gently touch starfish!

Checking out the whale sharks below!

The Georgia Aquarium is open 365 days a year. Check out the Georgia Aquarium's Kids Corner for a variety of fun Atlanta kids activities that you can do before, during and after your trip to the Aquarium.

It's Spring Break! Plan your trip to visit the world's largest aquarium: http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/plan-your-visit/