Martin Luther King Jr. Day is tomorrow, setting bank employees and school children free to enjoy the holiday.
Tuesday will be a special day for another reason — the 44th president, Barack Obama, will be sworn into office.
None of us in the newsroom can remember any previous inauguration creating quite so much interest, but this is a historic event and is being treated as such by the newspaper.
Throughout the week, the Times has been receiving phone calls and e-mails from individuals traveling to D.C., some with no idea where they are going to stay, to see the inauguration. Some will be attending balls, while others will be literally driving to D.C. to see the event and turning around to drive back.
The Times is following the inauguration through people who are there and is producing editions that are certain to be collectors items for those who want to remember this day.
Regardless of your political leanings, this week is certain to bring the country together to watch the swearing in and to hope that the promised change will bring stability to our economy.
For coverage of this weeks’ events, check the paper and the Web site for the latest news, and enjoy the inauguration section in today’s paper.
State of the City
Mayor John Fretti will deliver Valdosta’s State of the City address Thursday evening at the Valdosta City Council meeting, outlining his hopes and expectations for the coming year.
Each year of his administration, Fretti has delivered the address to showcase the staff’s achievements, to highlight the progress Valdosta has made, and to outline the city’s plans for the future.
With the economy going south in so much of the country, it will be a pleasant change for Valdosta to hear about how much better the community is doing in contrast. Although there are unfortunate economic issues here as well, let’s hope the cuts are less drastic and last much less time than in other areas.
I understand the mayor’s speech will be broadcast on the city’s new Channel 17 on Mediacom if you’d like to watch this week.
Business Roundup
The Goody’s in Valdosta is closing its doors, along with all of the chains’ stores nationwide, and is holding huge sales. The store is located in the strip center behind Steak and Shake and beside Crystal River Seafood on St. Augustine.
Famous Labels will soon be opening in the Lake Park outlet stores. The new store will sell a variety of name brands and designer label merchandise at 70-80 percent off their original retail prices.
My understanding is that it will be open in the next few weeks.
Also in the Lake Park outlets, the Georgia Pasty Company will be holding its grand opening later this week. It’s located next to the Bass shoes and sells meat pies, cornish pastys, desserts, etc.
A nice reader let me know this week that The Scoop is now Two Scoops and Cafe. It’s located on Baytree Road, and the new owners opened in December.
The new flower shop next to Publix is called Pack House Flowers, and it looks like the cyber cafe next to it may have already closed. It hasn’t been open the last several times I’ve been by there.
Good news for everyone who has been searching for a shoe repair shop in town. Village Shoe Repair will be open in about a week at 100 E. Rogers St. A great idea in this economy.
Azalea City Pools is open on Bemiss Road and so is the Mexican restaurant near Mambo and Subway.
The new catfish restaurant in front of the Highlands subdivision looks pretty complete from the outside and so does the Ellianos there.
Once the inside finish work is done, they should be open for business.
Speaking of being open for business, Southeastern Federal Credit Union officially opens its new main branch this week at the corner of Country Club and North Valdosta Road.
And the new Hawthorne Suites off Exit 22 is getting really close to opening as well.
That’s it for this week, but if there’s anything I missed, please let me know!
Business
Related Photos
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The Georgia Pasty Company has opened in Lake Park, offering cornish pastys, coffee, tea, sweets and other treats with a British flair.
Business This Week: Politically speaking, a historic week
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Business Wish List Results
The results are in from my very un-scientific poll on the businesses that people want to see come to Valdosta. After my comment last week that there seemed to be more requests for retail than restaurants, I was bombarded this week with restaurant suggestions, so I’m guessing even with an OG, readers aren’t quite satisfied yet.
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The Brass Quill Gallery
VALDOSTA — The only way to describe The Brass Quill Gallery to someone who hasn’t witnessed the majesty of its interior is this: If Alice in Wonderland could be interpreted into a modern-day building decorated by the Mad Hatter — that’s The Brass Quill Gallery. It is arguably the most creative decorating scheme in Valdosta. It is because of the business’ unique style, that The Brass Quill Gallery is a metaphorical nest of creativity for those wanting to get inked. -
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BlackBerry’s Future?
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Business This Week: Wishing and hoping for some new businesses
About another 50 or more readers emailed this week to lend some thoughts on the type of businesses they’d like to see come to Valdosta, and places where there are things to do for kids, especially teens, and adults are high on the list so far.
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Business Wish List: the 2012 version
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Downtown Hahira
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5 tips to help you land a new job in 2012
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Business Wish List Results
