Welcome back!

Zucca Bar & Pizzeria in the Smyrna Market Village will be helping to support two Smyrna youth athletic programs – the Smyrna Stars Junior Basketball Club and the Georgia International Soccer Academy.

Bring the entire family for great food and fun. Stop by for lunch between 11:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. or for dinner between 4:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2, 2009.

A portion of sales from the entire day on Tuesday will help support the Smyrna Stars and GISA.

And don’t forget about the upcoming 2nd Annual Celebrity All-Star Basketball game with the Harlem Legends on Saturday, June 13, 2009. Proceeds from this fundraiser support The Smyrna Stars Junior Division Basketball Program.

Tickets are still available. Prices are $10 in advance and$15 at the door. Contact us if you’d like to take advantage of the advance discount prices.

[where: 30080]

Good news for first-time homebuyers, who will now have access to quick cash to help them with their down payments.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that first-time homebuyers using FHA-approved lenders can now get an advance on the $8,000 tax credit created by the stimulus package and apply it toward their down payments or closing costs.

Until now, the only way to receive the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit was to claim the credit when you filed your 2008 or 2009 tax return. By creating the ability for first-time homebuyers to receive the money in advance, this should result in more homebuyers entering the market and stimulate new home sales.

The announcement details FHA’s rules allowing state Housing Finance
Agencies and certain non-profits to ‘monetize” up to the full amount of the tax credit (depending on the amount of the mortgage) so that borrowers can immediately apply the funds toward their down payments.

The initiative also authorized similar programs already offered in Colorado, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington and other states. To quickly infuse cash into their housing markets, the housing finance authorities in these states created bridge loans to allow buyers to borrow against the $8,000 credit and then repay it with their tax refunds.

It will now be up to the State of Georgia or other non-profit organizations to implement a program under the guidelines set out by the FHA.

Needless to say, it is a buyer’s market. With the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit and the $1,800 Georgia homebuyer tax credit, low interest rates and great home prices, now is a great time to buy a home.

Contact us if we can be of assistance in your Smyrna Vinings home search or if you have any questions on the tax credits.

You are invited to the 2009 City of Smyrna Memorial Day Ceremony – 10:00 a.m. at the Cobb County 20th Century Veterans Memorial.  (Ceremony begins promptly at 10:00 a.m. in the heart of Smyrna, Georgia)

The Smyrna ceremony is organized by members of the community and it is those members of the community who officiate.  They wish for you to join them on this day to honor and appreciate sacrifices and our commitment to peace through strength and sacrifice.

The 2009 Memorial Day Ceremony sequence is as follows:

• Flyover
• Presentation of Colors
• National Anthem
• Invocation
• Welcome & Remarks
• Veteran Remarks
• Honors
• Armed Services Medley
• Benediction

Each year, a new design for the commemorative lapel pin is approved by the Memorial Day Ceremony Committee and the lapel pins are given to attendees of the event.

Seating is generally unassigned (beyond the two to three rows) but is limited and is expected to start as early as 9:00 a.m. and end at 10:00 a.m..  The ceremony will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m.

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The annual Smyrna community ceremony began in 2003.  The 2004 ceremony organizing committee created a program with a special sequence launch of honoring – in sequence – the experience of those involved in six wars/conflicts, beginning with WWI.  The 2004 ceremony focused on the WWII experience.  2005 highlighted the Korean War and the 2006 ceremony emphasis was on the Vietnam War experience.  The 2007 ceremony concentrates on the last 25 years.  The 2008 and 2009 ceremonies have included experience from WWII to present.

The first program included a section titled “History and Remembrance,” which narrated history surrounding the development and conclusion of each of six wars (WWI through the “War on Terrorism”) and the costs in dollars and human lives.  A copy of this narrated recording was donated to the Smyrna Public Library.

If you want your children to know why we do what we do on Memorial Day, this is the ceremony that you should attend.

Meehan’s Public House will be hosting an upcoming fundraiser in support of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Fundraiser on Wednesday, June 6, 2009 from 6-9pm.

Meehan’s Public House is located at 2810 Paces Ferry Road in the heart of Vinings.

Meehan’s can accept table reservations for groups of 6 or more as well. If anyone should have any questions or concerns, they can contact Paige at 770.433.1920. All donations benefit L&L Society.

A $15 dollar donation entitles donor to $2 Miller lite, Budlight and Yuengling as well as 30% off all apps. The donor will receive a blue rubber donors bracelet marked with the Luekemia and Lymphoma Society logo. This event is open to anyone and everyone!

About the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society®, headquartered in White Plains, NY, with 66 chapters in the United States and Canada, is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services.

The Society’s mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since its founding in 1949, the Society has invested more than $483 million in research specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Last year alone, the Society made 4.2 million contacts with patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals.

For more information about this organization, please visit: http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org

[where: 30339]

Charming 4-sided brick ranch in heart of Smyrna! Steps from Market Village shops and restaurants, Smyrna Public Library, Smyrna Community Center and the Village Green, home of many great summer events.

Home has a large eat-in Kitchen with new stained maple cabinets, granite countertops and stainless steel undermount sink.

You’ll love the large Family Room addition with fireplace, the large patio and private backyard along with workshop. This home is eligible for $8K+$1,800 Homebuyer tax credits!

Contact us for more information about this home.