Oct. 1: National Fire Prevention Month is October. October is National Fire Prevention Month, and the Valdosta Fire Department has various educational events-such as station tours, puppet shows and school visits, etc.-planned to teach and reinforce the lessons of fire prevention. Call the VFD Fire Safety Educator Sgt. Chris Staples for more information or to schedule an event at (229) 333-1835.

Oct. 2: Community celebrates Early Education Empowerment Zones. Citizens are invited to a community commitment ceremony on Oct. 2, at 9:30 a.m., at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College (Bldg. 700). The event will celebrate the news that Lowndes County was recently selected as one of Georgia's four Early Education Empowerment Zones and has agreed to work in partnership with the Department of Early Care and Learning and other state agencies to improve services to Georgia's children from birth to age eight and their families. Lowndes County is part of the South Cluster of recipients that also includes Colquitt, Cook, Brooks, and Echols, all of whom will benefit from the early education reform initiative. Our area will receive over $1 million in targeted resources-part of the $51.7 million Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Grant-that helps support better outcomes for young children. Let's celebrate the future of our local children.

Oct. 2: VPD Citizen's Police Academy Continues with Week #2. Citizens who signed up for the Citizen's Police Academy are in week #2 of an 8-week program on Thursday evenings to get a better understanding of the internal workings of a modern day law enforcement agency. The class is free and is one of three citizens information programs designed to engage and educate citizens on their local government. Call VPD Officer Vernotis Williams at (229) 292-7785 for more information or to get an application for the next class.

Oct. 3: First Friday in Downtown Valdosta.  Take time to visit the new piece of public art in Benney's Alley, while you are enjoying the popular First Friday event.  This Friday's event will feature live music, dining specials, shopping and more of the fun that the community expects on the first Friday of every month in beautiful downtown Valdosta.  Visit www.valdostamainstreet.com for more information, or call the Valdosta Main Street office at (229) 259-3577.

Oct. 4: Community Needed for Rivers Alive. Volunteers are still needed for the annual Rivers Alive cleanup day, on Saturday, Oct. 4., from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. This event, hosted by Keep Lowndes-Valdosta Beautiful, is a community effort to remove trash and litter from our area waterways. Come alone, bring a friend, or bring the entire family. For more information or to sign up as a volunteer, contact KLVB executive director Aaron Strickland, at 229-671-3698, or visit klvb.net.

Oct. 4: Farm Days This Saturday. Farm Days-Valdosta's popular farmers market-will take place on the sidewalks around the historic Lowndes County Courthouse in downtown Valdosta, on Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Get your fresh produce and other locally-produced products at Farm Days. Following theOct. 4 event, there is only one remaining Farm Days event for the 2014 year. Call the Valdosta Main Street office at (229) 259-3577 for details, or visit www.valdostamainstreet.com.

SAVE THE DATE

Oct. 6: Have You Registered to Vote? Monday, Oct. 6 is the last day a person may register and be eligible to vote in the General Election and Runoff, per O.C.G.A. § 21-2-224 (a). Call the Board of Elections at (229) 671-2850 for more information.

OTHER CITY NEWS

Trick-or-Treat Scheduled for Nov. 1

Sewer Main Rehabilitation on City Streets

Twelve Opportunities to Serve the Community. The city has 12 board vacancies for citizens who want to get more involved in the local government and their community. Each person applying must review the Membership Requirements and Code of Ethics Booklet, complete a General Board Application and sign a Code of Ethics form. The closing date for submitting the required documents is Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 5 p.m. Click here for a list of vacant positions, or call City Clerk Teresa Bolden at (229) 259-3503.

REMINDER: Hurricane Season Runs through Nov. 30. Are you ready? Visit www.ready.ga.gov to prepare you and your loved ones for Hurricane Season-or for any type of emergency. It's also a good time to make sure you are signed up for the Code Red emergency alert system. Click here to sign up today.

THIS WEEK ON METRO 17 CITY FOCUS. Citizens may view the following news stories on Mediacom channel 17, delivered by Public Information Officer Sementha Mathews: Force Main Project update, VFD Career Expo, CAPER Review, E3 Zones, Trick or Treat date change, Board and commission vacancies, VLPRA Events in Oct., Final Farm Days, Community Planning Month, Fire Prevention Month, Safe Routes to School Day, September Employee of the Month, KLVB Community events, Stormwater tip, Have a Heart for the Homeless event, and more. City Focus airs six times a day at 4 a.m., 7 a.m., noon, 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 11 p.m., and can be enjoyed anytime atwww.vimeo.com/metro17valdosta, along with other informative programming.