Georgia Magazine - April 2010 - (Page 8)

COMPILED BY JENNIFER J. HEWETT April 2010 is ‘Safe Digging Month’ April 1 may be April Fools’ Day, but it is no reason to make foolish assumptions about the location of underground utilities. April 1, 2010, marks the first day of Georgia’s Dig Safely Month, as declared by Gov. Sonny Perdue. Georgia 811 and Perdue encourage residents to “call before you dig.” Everyone who will be digging— homeowners, landscapers, plumbers, farmers and professional excavators alike—is required to dial 811 before beginning a digging project, no matter how small the job. Utility services like phone, gas, power, water and cable that your family depends on are buried underground. Striking a single line can result in harm to yourself or someone else, costly fines and repair fees, or inconvenient outages. The free call to 811 is easy to remember, and it [also] keeps you in compliance with the Georgia “Dig Law.” On average, one call to Georgia 811 will notify seven utility companies where digging will take place. These member companies dispatch technicians to mark the underground lines with colored paint and/or flags. Notify Georgia 811 at least two business days before excavation begins on public and private property, rights of way and easements. Established in 1974, Georgia 811 is a nonprofit organization comprised of more than 700 member utility companies, including cities and counties throughout Georgia that benefit through reductions in lost time, accidents, service interruptions and costly repairs. For more information, visit the Georgia 811 Web site at www.geor gia811.com. For more about the Georgia “Dig Law” visit the Georgia Public Service Commission’s Web site at www.psc.state.ga.us. —Meghan Chestnutt, Utilities Protection Center Centennial Farms deadline approaching The Georgia Centennial Farm program is searching for historic working farms with at least 10 acres actively involved in agricultural production or generating a minimum of $1,000 in annual income. In addition, the land must have been continuously farmed for at least 100 years and owned by members of the same family for at least 100 years or be listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Established in 1993, the program encourages the preservation of these historic farmsteads, and since the program’s start, nearly 360 farms around the state have been designated as Centennial Farms. To apply, visit the Historic Preservation Division’s Web site at hpd. dnr.state.ga.us/content/displaycontent. asp?txtDocument=119. For more information, contact Gretchen Brock at (404) 651-6782 or gretchen. brock@ dnr.state.ga.us.Applications are due on April 30. GA. DEPT. OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Letting conservation flow Rome’s new ECO River Education Center, located on the Oostanaula River near the confluence of the Etowah and Coosa rivers, is set to open April 17 during the city’s Waterfest celebration, and will help educate visitors of all ages about local water resources and conservation. Featuring interactive exhibits, large classroom space and historical photo displays, the building also houses an aquarium and other tanks showcasing aquatic life native to the region. To learn more about the ECO River Education Center, contact the Greater Rome Convention and Visitors Bureau at www.romegeorgia.org or call (706) 295-5576. 8 www.georgiamagazine.org GEORGIA MAGAZINE http://www.georgia811.com http://www.georgia811.com http://www.psc.state.ga.us http://hpd.dnr.state.ga.us/content/displaycontent.asp?txtDocument=119 http://hpd.dnr.state.ga.us/content/displaycontent.asp?txtDocument=119 http://hpd.dnr.state.ga.us/content/displaycontent.asp?txtDocument=119 http://www.romegeorgia.org http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - April 2010

Georgia Magazine - April 2010
Contents
Viewpoint
Mailbox
Picture This?
Georgia News
Calendar
Currents
Special Energy Report
Major League Fun at the "Minors"
Remarkable Rivers
Southern Graces
Around Georgia
My Georgia
Georgia Gardens
Georgia Cooks
Cookbook of the Month
Snapshot

Georgia Magazine - April 2010