Community Corner

Vote for Justin Balmes

Marietta butcher/fishmonger's quest to survive another week and become the next Food Network's "Star" tops The 5 Things today.

1. Immediately click here and vote for Justin Balmes. Great ... now that you've voted, you now know that Balmes, a fishmonger and butcher for Harry’s Farmers Market is a contestant on Food Network Star. Which means this is a good time to vote again

As a contestant, Balmes is competing for a chance to win his own cooking show on the network. Tonight's show at 9 o'clock marks the second week of the competition, and Marietta will tune in to see if Balmes survives for another week. (Another vote here will help.)

And you get seven more chances to vote.

Find out what's happening in Mariettawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

2. The City of Marietta spotlights another local government agency on its Web site this week: the Marietta Housing Authority. The authority, led by a five-member board oversees housing opportunities for low-income residents and provides programs to assist families, including rental and homeownership assistance.

On Wednesday, the authority's board voted to name Fran Sutton as its new chairwoman. A banking veteran for more than two decades, Sutton has been a member of the board since 2007 and works in her family's business, Old Mill Cabinet Co., a producer of fine cabinetry.

Find out what's happening in Mariettawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“It is a privilege to be asked to serve as chair," Sutton said. "The Board of Commissioners and staff of the Marietta Housing Authority are committed to improving the lives of the many clients we serve. We will continue to offer opportunities everyone from our resident seniors to our many school age students to work toward self sufficiency and an excellent quality of life.”

3. Marietta City Schools began its summer schedule last week, meaning that most of the system's schools and buildings will operate on a four-day week and close on these Fridays: June 17, 24, and July 1, 15 and 22. All buildings will be closed for Fourth of July.

The schedule change affects all system locations except and , where summer school programs operate. will also operate summer camp beginning June 6 through July 29, and will be open each day from 6:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. For more information, click here.

4.  At Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Chief Master Sgt. John M. Anderson, the retired command chief of 94th Airlift Wing, recently introduced a recognition program called the "Linebacker Award" to recognize men and women who perform beyond expectations.

The first two recipients were Senior Master Sgt. Bradley J. McKinney, superintendent from the 94th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight, and Master Sgt. Charles L. Spruill (Gulledge) the first sergeant from the 94th Aeromedical Staging Squadron.

5. Today is Raggedy Ann and Andy Day, a tribute to the century-old rag dolls that were first introduced in 1915.  Arcola, Ill., leads the celebration with a tribute to its favorite son and doll creator Johnny Gruelle. Ann entered the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2002, followed by Andy in 2008.


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