The Smyrna-Vinings Steward: October Goes All In (Issue #32)

Good morning Stewards,

October's in full swing now. You can feel it in the cooler mornings, see it in the pumpkins showing up on porches, and hear it in conversations shifting from "too hot" to "perfect weather."

This is the season where everyone wants to be outside—fall festivals, outdoor concerts, Friday night lights. So grab your favorite flannel, mark your calendar for this weekend's Spooky Festival, and enjoy every bit of this Georgia fall before it slips away.

Here's what you need to know this week.

— Your Voice for Local Prosperity

In Today's Edition

• ☀️ This Week's Weather: Perfect Fall Conditions Through the Weekend

• ⚾ Difference Makers: Campbell Softball Honors Local Heroes

• 🏢 Business Beat: 15 New Businesses Show Growth in Health, Beauty & Ward 5

• 💼 Local Job Board: Start a New Chapter in Smyrna-Vinings

• 🛣️ Have Your Say: I-285 Expansion Community Survey Still Open

• 🎃 This Week's Events: Spooky Festival, Blanket Concerts, and Jazz Under the Gazebo

THE WEATHER REPORT
☀️ Georgia Fall at Its Finest

This is the weather you brag about to your friends up north.

Your Week Ahead:

• Tue-Wed: Sunny and beautiful, highs around 78°-80°

• Thu-Fri: Continued sunshine, mid-70s—ideal for outdoor events

• Weekend: Clear and comfortable, perfect for Spooky Festival Friday and concerts Saturday

• Nights: Cool 50s—time to dig out those hoodies

Plan accordingly: Mornings are chilly (low 50s), but afternoons warm up nicely. Layers are your friend this week.

DIFFERENCE MAKERS
First Responders Take the Mound: Campbell Softball Honors Local Heroes

There's something special about watching the people who keep our community safe step out of their usual roles and into the spotlight—even if it's just for a ceremonial first pitch.

Campbell High School softball recently honored Smyrna's first responders with the chance to throw out the first pitch at a game, giving the community a moment to recognize the folks who show up when things go wrong.

Why This Matters: It's easy to forget that behind every emergency call, there's someone who chose a job where "bad day at the office" means something completely different.

These moments—where students, parents, and neighbors get to say "thank you" without an emergency happening first—remind us why community support for first responders goes beyond just calling 911 when we need them.

The Local Connection: Campbell's gesture reflects a broader appreciation for public safety across Smyrna-Vinings. With events like Jazz Under the Gazebo (coming November 1) raising funds for the Smyrna Public Safety Foundation, our community consistently shows up to support the people who show up for us.

Sometimes the best way to honor first responders isn't during a crisis—it's on a Friday night under the lights, with a softball in hand and a stadium full of people cheering them on.

DIFFERENCE MAKERS
September's Newcomers Show Growth in Health, Beauty & Ward 5

Smyrna's economic pulse quickened in September with 15 new businesses—both commercial and home-based—signaling growth across key sectors and a notable concentration in Ward 5.

Commercial Spotlight: Health & Wellness Lead the Way

September saw seven new commercial establishments, with a clear focus on personal well-being:

🏥 The Health & Beauty Nexus

• Articularis Rheumatology Specialists of Georgia, LLC (Ward 1) - Specialized medical care

• Flourish Beauty Salon (Ward 1) - Personal services expansion

• ESR Body & Balance LLC (Ward 5) - Massage therapy and wellness

📍 Ward 5 Emerges as Commercial Hub Nearly half of new commercial entities—3 out of 7—chose Ward 5:

• Full of Grace Ministries - Religious organization

• VHC Quality Solutions LLC - Staffing services

• ESR Body & Balance LLC - Wellness services

This concentration suggests Ward 5 is becoming a go-to location for diverse community and business services.

🍽️ A Taste of China (Ward 7) adds new dining options to the local restaurant scene, promising to expand culinary choices for residents.

Home-Based Businesses: Property Management Dominates

Eight new home businesses launched in September, with a clear winner: Residential Property Managers claimed 50% of home business openings.

Four new property management operations—Mystique Management Group LLC, AGW LLC, Bren X Enterprises LLC, and Betzy Rodriguez—suggest growing local demand for managing the city's residential properties.

Other Key Home Sector Entrants:

• NexClix, Inc. - Technical services

• Turner Express Logistics, LLC - Management consulting

• Music Magic Arts LLC - Independent artists

• Get On Base Adult Kickball League LLC - Sports and recreation

The influx of home-based ventures underscores Smyrna's appeal as a location where service professionals and niche businesses can thrive without traditional storefront overhead.

What This Means: The concentration in Ward 5 and the property management boom reflect two trends: certain areas are becoming commercial hubs, and entrepreneurs are betting on Smyrna's residential growth requiring more management services.

Both signals suggest confidence in the city's economic trajectory.

PUBLIC PULSE
Have Your Say: I-285 Expansion Community Survey

The I-285 Westside Express Lanes project is moving forward, and there's still time to share your thoughts on how this major infrastructure project will affect your daily commute.

What's Happening: The community survey gives Smyrna-Vinings residents a chance to weigh in on a project that'll reshape traffic patterns for years to come.

Whether you commute to downtown, the airport, or across the metro area, this expansion will affect your drive time, toll costs, and route options.

Why Your Input Matters: Big infrastructure projects often move forward with limited community feedback. This survey gives you a direct line to decision-makers while there's still time to influence outcomes.

Whether you're concerned about toll pricing, construction disruption, or environmental impact, now's the time to speak up.

Take the Survey: Visit the project website to share your thoughts. The more residents participate, the harder it becomes for planners to ignore community concerns about a project that'll define commuting for the next decade.

It's not the most exciting way to spend 10 minutes, but if you drive I-285 regularly, those 10 minutes could influence how you spend the next 10 years commuting.

EVENT HORIZON
🎉 This Week's Events: Spooky Festival, Concerts & Community Gatherings

October's packed with reasons to get out and actually meet your neighbors instead of just waving from the driveway.

Smyrna's Spooky Festival | 6PM-9PM, Oct 17 (More Info)

• Location: Smyrna Market Village & Village Green Park

• Description: FREE family event with trick-or-treating through Market Village, live DJ, inflatables, and Hotel Transylvania screening at 7 PM on the LED screen. Costumes encouraged, all ages welcome.

Blanket Concert Series: Blue Velvet Atlanta | 6:30PM-8:30PM, Oct 18 (More Info)

• Location: Reed House Event Garden, 3080 Atlanta Road

• Description: FREE live music under the stars. Bring blankets, chairs, and friends. No registration required—just show up and enjoy.

College Football Saturdays | 3PM, Oct 18 (More Info)

• Location: Village Green Park

• Description: Big screen viewing, live DJ, giveaways and prizes. Bring chairs, wear team colors, watch major games with neighbors. FREE, no registration needed.

Weekly Smyrna Market | 10AM-2PM, Oct 19 (More Info)

• Location: Smyrna Market Village

• Description: 60+ vendors with international foods, local honey, handmade goods. New vendors weekly.

College Football Saturdays | 3PM, Oct 18, Nov 15, Dec 6 (More Info)

• Location: Village Green Park

• Description: Big screen TVs, live DJ, giveaways and prizes. Bring your chairs, wear your team colors, and watch the biggest games of the season with neighbors. No registration needed—just show up.

Smyrna Market | 10AM-2PM, Every Sunday through Oct 19 (More Info)

• Location: Smyrna Market Village

• Description: 60+ vendors every week with international foods, local honey, handmade goods. New vendors each Sunday so there's always something different to discover.

Women's Business Forum | 8:30AM-2PM, Oct 22 (Register)

• Location: Hotel Indigo Vinings, 2857 Paces Ferry Road

• Description: Three speakers on leadership and business. Networking for local businesswomen. Check-in at 8:30 AM, program starts at 9 AM.

Smyrna Run Club | Oct 29 6:30 PM

• Location: Stout Brothers

• Description: Meet fellow runners for a relaxed 3–5 mile run

Jazz Under the Gazebo | Nov 1 (Tickets)

• Location: The Vineyard Wine Market, Downtown Smyrna

• Description: The Bourbon Brothers channel Frank Sinatra with classics from The Great American Songbook. Smooth jazz, wine tastings, dinner, dancing, silent auction, and raffle. All proceeds benefit Smyrna Public Safety Foundation supporting local first responders.

👋 Until Next Tuesday

This week's edition highlighted the two ways we build our community: celebration and civic engagement.

From the I-285 survey to the 15 new businesses betting on local growth and the Campbell softball team honoring First Responders—Smyrna-Vinings is moving forward.

Your role? Show up!

☀️ Get Out There: Perfect weather for the Spooky Festival and Blanket Concert.
📣 Speak Up: Take the I-285 survey and send us your local gems!

🧭 Support Local: Shop the businesses that show up for us in Smyrna & Vinings.

📬 Ready to dig deeper? : Sign up for the scoop on Smyrna-Vinings delivered right to your inbox every Tuesday @ 8 AM

Building Smyrna's future together.
— The Stewardship Group

P.S. Jazz Under the Gazebo tickets are selling fast for November 1. If you've been meaning to support the Public Safety Foundation while enjoying a sophisticated evening out, now's the time to grab yours here.