Oconee County, GA Politics

The Watkinsville Trade and Tourism Association cancelled the semi-monthly downtown Watkinsville consumer invitation known as First Friday for Friday afternoon and evening, May 2nd, 2014 in downtown Watkinsville on Main Street, according to President Cindy Pritchard and a story in the Oconee Enterprise newspaper written by Michael Prochaska and forwarded by Watkinsville City Clerk Julie Sanders. Relay for Life and Mothers Day have been cited as the scheduling conflict reasons for the cancellation. The survivors walk is scheduled for 6:45 and Oconee County always has a very strong turnout for Relay for Life, this time at North Oconee High School in greater Bogart on Hog Mountain Road (State Route 53). Downtown Watkinsville business Dover Grace Alternative Boutique ( 13 1/2 North Main Street) invites women to come in for a free fitting and measurement nonetheless.  I can well imagine that Elizabeth Ann Florists will also give you a pretty good deal on flowers for your mom or you...

Oconee County Georgia Tourism Tonight is the very first, First Friday for 2011! The Weather looks great and we have A LOT of new and exciting activities for the whole family! Hope to see you all in downtown Watkinsville tonight from 6pm to 8pm.

Watkinsville has been going through the same economic shifts as the rest of the county, but a seemingly high number of local businesses have gone through transfers of ownership or location lately. Full Moon Studios shifted ownership with Mark Cooper Smith letting Charlie Garrett take over the reigns at the location of the Oconee School of Rock and any number of local music recordings ranging from the new program on Rock 100.7 called Athens Outside In to projects by the Indigo Girls, Vic Chesnutt, Five Eight, Magnapop and many others. Sweet ReTreat just shifted owners as well after the current ownership had offered the business for sale for some time. The location was very busy there this first Friday as Miss Vickie introduced me to the new owner, and she seemed like a very gracious host as well. They had free cupcakes as part of the First Friday celebration downtown. Big props to the First Christian Church for having karaoke and miniature golf to go with their train around the ne...

Watkinsville's highly successful attempts at luring extra families downtown did exactly that once again Friday, August 8, 2009. This time acoustic performers played on one side of Main Street while the cars slowed down for Chief Lee O'Dillon and his traffic keeping deputy. Blow-up bouncy moonwalks made kids happy as did balloons and bubbles. Kids bounced on hoppity hops on downtown sidewalks attempting to get other kids into the karate studio. The most unusual aspect of this First Friday had to be the Man Bake Sale in Dan Elder's building in an artfully done attempt at renting this amazingly refurbished building. Lots of people dined at Barberitos and Mirko's Pasta with long lines at Sweet Retreats as well. Ashford Manor Bed and Breakfast is having a great yard sale with lots of Elvis Presley memoribilia It will continue tomorrow and I strongly advise you to come check out the vast quantities of really cool stuff they have ready to make your life better. The Bake Sale ...

Although I am very tardy in reporting about it, the First Friday celebration is commencing right about now in lovely downtown Watkinsville. This is an attempt to put a spotlight on the businesses in downtown Watkinsville's business district with various family friendly activities to entice shoppers and keep the kiddies happy. If I get out of work and back to Oconee County in time, I will take a few photos of the goings on. It is going to be a ridiculously busy weekend with the Relay for Life (thanks Chuck and good luck to your wife at 3:00 am at Oconee County High School track) and tons of soccer and other activities and festivals. Enjoy and see you there if you go. Or see you at OCAF tomorrow.

First Friday fun in the sun in Watkinsville was the place to see and be seen, ride a rickshaw or pedicab or train, hear a rock band cover ZZ Top's "Just Got Paid Today," go see Delores Schofield at Circa before they close the doors, see some candidates campaigning including Ashley Hood, Johnny Pritchett, Chuck Horton and Sarah Bell were seen glad handing voters and listening to the concerns, or getting a blown up balloon artistry created, or bouncing in the moonwalk, or climbing the rock wall, or shopping at the stores, or eating at the restaurants, or buying the boiled peanuts, or listening to the people. Experience was on every one's mind, or so it seemed. The heat can make some people question other's motives. I can only write what I know, and I know Ashley Hood has her heart and mind in the right place for our kids. She is not beholden to the special interests, cliques, country clubs, Rotary, Moose Club, skate punks or developers. She has worked with a number...