ANDREA

On Tuesday, Dec. 1, Chief Mike Strobridge received a very important letter from the North Pole. Once again, Jolly Saint Nick will visit the good boys and girls of the Swainsboro neighborhoods for the sixth year. Santa has asked Chief Mike Strobridge and the Swainsboro Firefighters to assist in guiding his annual trip to visit the good children on Christmas eve. Santa will ride upon his highly decorated #7 Sleigh accompanied by his Public Safety friends from Emanuel County.

Beginning at 5 p.m., Santa will travel down Main Street to Walmart, after a meet and greet with children, his journey will continue to the following streets:

South Main Street, Youmans Avenue, Soloman Street, Neal Street, Richard Street for the first stop; Harmon, Lakewood Drive, Meadowlake Pkwy, Injunction Road, South Main Street to Meadowlake Pkwy.to Industrial Way, Elmer Street, to Lambs Bridge Road, to Claxton Avenue, Jones Avenue for the second stop; onto Lambs Bridge Road, Market Street, to Stevens Drive, South Anderson Drive, Turner Drive, Fortune Loop, onto Prosperity Drive, Lake Luck Drive, onto East Main Street, to Advantage Ln, Friendly Way, Happiness Drive for the third stop; by Freedom Street, continue onto East Pine Street, onto Norwood Avenue, King Circle Drive for the fourth stop; Waller Pass, Ben Street, William Street, to Rentz Street, MLK to Center Street, onto Longview Road, Fowler Street, North Coleman Ext, Wells, Old Wadley Road, R.J. Holder Road, onto North Main Street, Stallion Road, Christopher Drive, McKenzie Drive and back to North Main Street, onto MLK, onto Wells Street, Shearhouse Street, Robin Street, cross Kite Road onto Golf Drive, onto Barbara Avenue, Oak Lawn Drive to Kite Road. Then McLeod Bridge Road to North Green Street, onto Lucky Street, North Racetrack Street for the fifth stop; between West Church and West Pine Street. West Pine Street, Roberts Street, onto West Main Street, onto Tyson Street, to West Moring Street, to Arden Drive, Azalea Cir, Rosedale Cir, back to Arden Drive, cross Old Nunez Road to Maurice Drive, Poplar Street, to Calhoun Street, Mary Ann Drive, onto West Moring Street, to Central Street and West Pine Street to Fire Headquarters.

Follow along with the ride with Facebook Live on the Emanuel County Live Facebook page.

Swainsboro City Hall will be closed December 24th and 25th in celebration of Christmas, and January 1st in observance of New Year’s Day. Utility payments may be placed in the drop box at City Hall or they may be paid online by clicking here.

Swainsboro City Hall will be closed November 26th & 27th in observance of Thanksgiving. The drop box will be open for utility payments, or they may be made online by clicking here. City Hall will reopen on Monday, November 30th at 9:00 a.m.

After careful consideration, the planning committee for the Swainsboro Christmas Parade has made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s Christmas Parade. With the continued spread of COVID-19 within the community, the parade committee is working to organize other Holiday activities that the public can enjoy while social distancing.

Planned activities include a Holiday-themed Drive-In Movie experience, enhanced displays downtown with interactive elements at Patriots Park, and Holiday promotions to encourage shopping with local retailers. Additional details regarding these activities, and others that are currently in the works, will be announced soon.

While the parade committee is saddened by the cancellation of this year’s event, the decision was made in the interest of the community’s health and safety.  In the parade’s absence, the group looks forward to providing new experiences for the community to enjoy during this unusual Holiday season.

The Swainsboro Christmas Parade is held annually on the first Thursday of December. Next year’s event is scheduled for December 2, 2021.

(Photo courtesy of EGSC)

Swainsboro City Hall will be closed on Wednesday, November 11th in observance of Veterans Day. The drop box will be open for utility payments, or they may be made online by clicking here. City Hall will reopen on Thursday, November 12th at 9:00 a.m.

To all those who have served, and those who continue to serve, thank you for your service and sacrifice. Happy Veterans Day!

The public is invited to attend Seedling Garden Club’s rededication of the Blue Star Memorial Highway marker. The ceremony will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Veterans Day, in front of the Emanuel County Courthouse.

The Governor David Emanuel – Adam Brinson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) has placed American Flags around Patriots Park in honor of Veterans Day. Thank you to our local DAR chapter for continuing this annual project.

The Patriots Park fountain in downtown Swainsboro displays a purple hue in observance of National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. Thank you to the Swainsboro-Emanuel County Parks & Recreation Department for dyeing the fountain to help bring awareness to this disease.

Due to the continuing threat of COVID-19, the City of Swainsboro is recommending all Halloween activities observe a strict safety protocol including masks, social distancing, and hand sanitization. This is especially important for door-to-door trick-or-treating. Many homes may choose not to participate, and the wishes of those residents must be respected. Please observe all traffic, pedestrian, and health and safety regulations if you plan to participate in Halloween activities.

The Swainsboro-Emanuel County Parks and Recreation Department has continued its annual tradition of dyeing the fountain at Patriots Park pink in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.