🌱 Douglas County A 'Food Swamp' + Painting With A Purpose Fundraiser

Good morning, hello! I'm back with your fresh copy of the Douglasville Patch newsletter. Here are all the things you need to know about what's happening in the community today, including...

• Douglas County deemed a "food swamp"
• GreyStone Power 86th Annual Meeting of Members
• "Painting with a Purpose" fundraiser

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 82 Low: 57.

Here are the top five stories today in Douglasville:

1. Researchers, including Malcolm Bevel from the Georgia Cancer Center, are addressing the issue of "food swamps," where communities are saturated with unhealthy food options, especially in lower-income areas. Douglas County is among the twelve counties in metro Atlanta identified as trouble spots for food swamps, contributing to a 77 percent higher risk of obesity and cancer mortality. Efforts are underway to improve access to healthy food options, such as micro-farms, and involve policymakers and community leaders in tackling this issue. (WSB-TV)
2. GreyStone Power is hosting its 86th Annual Meeting of Members on Oct. 14, from 8:00 a.m. to noon. The event at 3400 Hiram Douglasville Highway in Hiram will include activities, musical entertainment, information on electric vehicles and broadband, and a health fair. There will be a Lineman’s Square featuring rodeo demonstrations and a chance for members to interact with linemen and learn about careers in the field. (Subscription: Douglas County Sentinel)
3. Douglas County Partners In Education is organizing a fundraising event called "Painting with a Purpose" at Painting with a Twist in Douglasville. The event is scheduled for Nov. 2, from 6:00-8:00 p.m., and will have a theme of "A PIE Family Pumpkin Patch." Participants are invited to join and contribute, with a portion of the registration fees going towards supporting students in Douglas County Georgia Schools. The registration fee for the event is $40. (Douglas County Partners In Education via Facebook)
4. For the next two weeks, Douglas County Animal Services is offering a "Name Your Fee" offer on all pet adoptions. The goal is to clear the shelters, and any amount donated, whether $1 or $100 will be accepted. Click the link to learn more. (Douglas County Animal Services - Georgia via Facebook)
5. A tragic incident occurred at a Six Flags in nearby Austell as an employee named Andrea Cook, 42, was ejected from a van during a turn onto an employee-only access road. The incident led to serious head injuries, and despite being taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, Cook unfortunately passed away on Sunday night. (South Cobb Patch)

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Today in Douglasville:

Wednesday, October 4

• Coffee With A Cop At Starbucks, 9484 Highway 5 (10:00 AM)
• Mandela Market Days Holiday Festival At 2818 Fairburn Rd. (9:00 AM)
• A Moonlit Fall Night At Painting With A Twist (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• REMINDER: Head over to O'Neal Plaza on Oct. 6 for a Halloween edition of Plaza Bingo. The game will kick off at 6:30 p.m. and participants are encouraged to bring a blanket or chair to sit on. (City of Douglasville - Government via Facebook)
• Do you have a sweet tooth? Check out this list 0f 10 spots in Douglasville that can cure your cravings! (Discover Douglasville via Facebook)
• Douglas County High School is hosting a Fall Festival on Friday from 3:30-6:00 p.m. on the front lawn. This event is open to the public. (Douglas County High School via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• Fall Fest | Vendors, Food Trucks, Games & Pumpkin Patch (October 7)
• Add your event

That's it for today! I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow morning with another update.

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.