‘Newnan Notes’

By Gina Snider

October 19, 2009

City of Newnan Public Information Officer 

Main Street is revving up for its first Oktoberfest beer tasting on Oct. 23. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Tickets will get participants a commemorative glass and brochure. They will then be invited to stroll through downtown Newnan sampling a variety of microbrews, lambics and ciders. For more information on this and other Main Street Newnan events, please visit www.mainstreetnewnan.com or call 770-253-8283. 

There were seven new occupational tax certificates issued by the city. The business names are Abounding Grace Life Ministries. All Metro Towing & Recovery, LLC, American Realty Group, LLC., BJ’s Optical #4147, Georgia Floors, Two Bears Antiques and Newnan Office Plaza, LLC. 

Keep Newnan Beautiful asks “Is it Really Environmentally Friendly?” Determining whether a product is really environmentally friendly isn’t always easy, but there are rules and regulations that manufacturers and marketers must follow. In general, environmentally-friendly products include: items made from recycled materials, products sold in bulk with less packaging, things that are packaged in reusable or recyclable materials, used products, and energy-efficient items, like “Energy Star” designated electronics and appliances. By educating yourself about environmentally-friendly products and practicing so-called green purchasing, you can lessen your carbon footprint and help protect the planet. 

The Engineering Department would like to remind citizens that Public Works offers free mulch at our Public Works Yard, located at 55 Boone Drive.  The city loads the mulch on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 12:45 to 2:45 p.m.  Please call the Public Works Yard at 770-253-0327 if you have questions about the mulch, loading, or directions.   Mulch is not only aesthetically pleasing in your flower beds and around shrubs and trees, but mulch also has many other benefits. Mulch helps prevent the growth of weeds, thus reducing the use of herbicides. It also helps moderate the soil temperature and holds in the moisture, reducing the need for watering. Mulch can also improve the soil structure and the availability of nutrients for plants. Mulch can also be used to cover bare soil to help prevent soil erosion. 

The city of Newnan Animal Control officer would like to offer tips on what exactly is your veterinarian looking for. A trusted, loving vet plays such a critical role in the health and well being of your dog. But you’re curious, what exactly is your vet examining during a physical check up of your pet? Every vet has their own examination methods of course, but here’s a quick look at her top five elements of the vet physical exam. 

1.    General
Your vet takes your pet’s vital signs, notes any immediate impressions in attitude as well and assesses her total "body condition score."

2.     The head
By looking closely at the eyes, ears, nose, mouth and teeth, your vet can check for discharge, levels of hydration and other critical signs of health.

3.    Skin and coat
A close look at the skin and coat can tip off the vet to fleas, ticks, lumps and general hydration.

4.    The chest
By listening to your pet’s chest with a stethoscope, vets "try to alter your pet’s breathing pattern with our hands on the nose and mouth and feel the pulses as they relate to the beats of the heart." To help the vet stay focused, it’s best to stay quiet during this aspect of the exam.

5.     Circulatory
By feeling for the pulse during the chest exam, your vet also checks the refill time for the mucous membranes and that pulses are well synchronized with the heartbeat.