The City of Valdosta will join other cities across Georgia in celebrating Georgia Cities Week, April 19-25, to recognize the many services city governments provide for the quality of life of citizens.  The theme this year is “Destination Downtown”and will feature how Valdosta Main Street is a gathering spot for people throughout our region and an economic development hot spot.

“Cities provide the infrastructure for growing businesses and provide quality of life services for individuals and families throughout our region,” said Valdosta Mayor John Gayle. “We are very proud of our city employees and the services they collectively provide that make our city attractive to our residents and visitors.  We are also proud of our Valdosta Main Street and encourage citizens to visit the businesses downtown during Georgia Cities Week and throughout the year.”

The City of Valdosta has planned events during Georgia Cities Week that cover a wide variety of interests.  Citizens are encouraged to observe Georgia Cities Week by participating in the following:

Monday, April 20:

• Customer Service Day—8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Customer Service Center, 102 N. Lee Street.  Citizens can browse city information on the display tables, read “If I Were Mayor” contest essays and enjoy some complimentary refreshments.   
  

• ADA Proclamation Presentation—10 a.m., on the step of Valdosta City Hall, 216 E. Central Avenue.  Mayor John Gayle will proclaim April 20-24, as Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Awareness Week in the presence of the Mayor’s Council for Persons with Disabilities members and other citizens.  This year marks the 25^th anniversary of the ADA, which ensures the civil rights of all people with disabilities.

Tuesday, April 21: 

• City Blood Drive—10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Valdosta Fire Station #1, at 106 S. Oak Street.  Give someone the gift of life!

• Community Reinvestment Act Forum:  Successful Community Development Through Strategic Partnerships—10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., in the Valdosta City Hall Annex Multi-Purpose Room.  This free event, sponsored in part by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), is open to bank managers and personnel, non-profit organizations, and other community-based organizations.  Lunch included.  Click here for event flier.

Wednesday, April 22:

• Job Shadow Day—8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Valdosta City Hall Annex Multi-Purpose Room, 300 N. Lee Street.  Twenty-five students from Valdosta High School Advancements via Individual Determination (AVID) program will job shadow city department heads and give presentations to the Valdosta Mayor, City Council members and staff at a luncheon.

Thursday, April 23: 

• Employee Appreciation Luncheon—11 a.m.- 1 p.m., at John W. Saunders Memorial Park.  City officials will serve lunch to city employees to show their appreciation for the work city employees do year-round.  

• City Council Meeting—5:30 a.m., at City Hall, located at 216 E. Central Avenue. Citizens are invited to attend the City Council meeting as Mayor John Gayle announces the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners of the “If I Were Mayor” sixth-grade essay contest, among other city business.

Friday, April 24:

• Valdosta Gateway Ribbon Cutting—at 10 a.m., N. Valdosta Road.  In observance of National Arbor Day, a small ribbon-cutting ceremony will celebrate the completion of the new Valdosta Gateway on N. Valdosta Road, which was funded in part by a Georgia Department of Transportation grant to welcome new and returning citizens and guests to our city.

• Bring Your Friend to Lunch Downtown Day—Downtown Valdosta.  Click here to check out the great dining and shopping options downtown and make plans to join us for Bring Your Friend to Lunch Downtown Day!

• Valdosta Fire Department 2015 Recruit School Graduation—4 p.m., at 1901 N. Forrest Street Community Center.  Citizens are invited to attend the graduation ceremony to welcome the VFD’s 11 newest firefighters.  

Saturday, April 25: 

• Great American Clean Up—8:30 to 11:30 a.m.—Volunteers meet at the Valdosta City Hall Annex, Lee Street Parking Lot.  Several neighborhoods have been selected for this year's cleanup.  Volunteers are still needed, and interested citizens may call Keep Lowndes-Valdosta Beautiful at (229) 671-3698 to volunteer. 

“Georgia Cities Week provides the perfect setting to be reminded of the positive steps we have taken and to invite our citizens to play an active role in the betterment of our community,” said Mayor Gayle.

Group tours of Main Street and city facilities are also available during the celebratory week.  For more information about Georgia Cities Week activities in Valdosta or to arrange a group tour, contact Public Information Officer Sementha Mathews at (229) 259-3548 or sign up for E-news blasts at www.valdostacity.com/publicinformation. 

Citizens may also follow the events on Facebook, Twitter @CityofValdosta or on YouTube at Metro 17 Valdosta.