Newnan

officials recently got a better idea of what the public

wants to see in a proposed convention center for the

county.

According

to Main Street director Mary Jo Holden, residents are

very concerned that a proposed convention center should

follow strict architectural guidelines and green space

requirements to help it blend in with the community.

Although

attendance was sparse at a recent public hearing on the

center, Holden said the residents gave members of the

convention center board plenty to study.

One of the

areas that need further study, residents said, was

whether the center should be just a conference center or

a full-fledged convention center. A conference center

offers meeting and lodging space, while a convention

center just offers meeting space, she said.

Holden said

the manager of the local Hampton Inn urged that a

convention center be built because there are already

plenty of conference centers available in the county.

The public

hearing on the project was the first step in a long

process to determine the feasibility of a

convention/conference center.

Holden said

the board plans to do a needs assessment and cost

analysis before making any decision. The next meeting of

the convention board is Nov. 18 at the Carnegie Building

in Newnan at 7 p.m.

In other

news from Main Street, Holden will leave her position as

director. While she has enjoyed the job, Holden said she

was not aware she would have to deal with the media as

much as she has.

The Main

Street committee also announced recently the theme of

this year's Christmas parade is "A Timeless

Christmas." Along with deciding on the theme, the

committee announced that this year's Coweta Christmas

ornaments had been designed and would soon be available

at local retail stores.