Pembroke and Richmond Hill will show residents “Where the Action is” through activities planned as part of the Georgia Municipal Association’s annual Georgia Cities Week celebration, which runs Sunday-April 27.
Richmond Hill will start its weeklong events Monday morning with a special breakfast, and City Manager Chris Lovell said he and other officials are excited for the week’s activities.
“Georgia Cities Week is chance for us to do some special things we don’t normally do, like recognize employees, and have the (Business) Breakfast and invite a bunch of dignitaries around town,” he said, noting this year’s Business Breakfast guest speaker is Sonny Dixon. “It’s a good time to recognize people for good work and let everyone know what we do (as a city).”
The breakfast begins at 8 a.m. Monday at the Richmond Hill City Center and is sponsored by the city and Richmond Hill-Bryan County Chamber of Commerce.
Other events for the week include large trash pickup from Monday-April 26. Items that will not be accepted in the trash pick up include tires, hazardous waste items, paint, refrigerators, freezers, oil or oil based products, grease products, batteries, gas or gas based products, lawnmowers, Freon or Freon-based products.
Residents whose subdivisions are scheduled for the large item trash pick up need to place their items on the curb no later than 7 a.m. the morning of the scheduled pick up.
In honor of Cities Week, Goodwill in Richmond Hill will pick up large recyclable items, including furniture, clothing, household goods, computers and more all week  by appointment only. To have items picked up call Goodwill Transportation at 354-6611.
The Richmond Hill Farmer’s Market will be held as usual Tuesday, and the city will recognize employees during a luncheon Wednesday.
Thursday the city will observe Arbor Day by planting a tree in J.F. Gregory Park, although the time of the planting has not yet been set.
The city will round out the week with a Fishing Derby on April 27. Registration begins at 7 a.m. and fishing runs from 8 a.m. to noon.
“We’ve done (the derby) every year, and it’s just something kids enjoy, and everybody seems to enjoy that part of (the week),” Lovell said.
Trophies will be given for the biggest fish caught and the most pounds in various children’s age groups up to age 12. All registered participants will receive a medal. A free lunch of hot dogs and soda will also be provided for registered participants by the Fort McAllister Sport Fishing Club.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own bait and poles, although some will be provided. For more information about the derby, contact Rhonda Gordon at 856-2727 or Ellis Phillips at 312-3387.
In Pembroke, the celebration will kick off Sunday with a ribbon-cutting and grand opening of Pembroke Through my Eyes, the city’s inaugural art exhibit, which will feature photographs, drawings and paintings highlighting the life, people and places in Pembroke.
The opening is from 2-5 p.m. Sunday and the art exhibit will be on display through May 4 at 38 W. Bacon St.
Pembroke continues the celebration Monday with a city employee luncheon, followed by a volunteer reception from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at the J. Dixie Harn Community Center.
And at 9 a.m. April 24, local emergency service personnel including police, fire, EMS and more will set up shop in the Bryan County Elementary schoolyard for the city’s second annual Public Safety Day.
Local elementary and primary school students will be able to explore the equipment and participate in lessons on bicycle, home and fire safety.
The city will round out the week with a “buy your own breakfast” with Mayor Mary Warnell at Whistle Stop Café downtown April 25, a city cleanup day April 26 and the semi-annual yard sale and farmers market at Dubois Square from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 27.
For more information about other events in Richmond Hill for Cities Week, contact City Hall at 756-3345. For more information about the week’s activities in Pembroke, contact City Hall at 653-4413.