Local elected officials joined city and school leaders at Piedmont Community Hall on Friday night to meet new residents at the city’s welcome party for newcomers. The event, sponsored by Compass realtors Sarah Abel and Julie Gardner, was held right before the Recreation Department’s Movie in the Park showing of Charlotte’s Web. A shave ice truck and icebreaker bingo with prizes kept the youngest new residents busy while the adults mingled.
Families migrated to the lawn afterward where more people gathered for the Friday night movie.
The event was first started in 2022 as a way to welcome new families who moved to town during the pandemic and missed out on many city and school events that typically brought people together.
Families met and mingled, had snacks, shave ice and played a game of icebreaker bingo to win prizes 
School board members Hilary Cooper and Cory Smegal with Superintendent Jennifer Hawn 
City Administrator Rosanna Bayon Moore, Recreation Director Chelle Putzer and new pool coordinator Paula Cooper-Tipton 
The youngest newcomer 
2024 Giving Campaign chairs Kim Hunter and Catie Osborn, with her son Reuven. 
Bingo prizes included tape measures from event sponsors Sarah Abel and Julie Gardner 
Piedmont newcomer Anca Dragan with Compass Realtor and event sponsor Sarah Abel, Councilmember Jennifer Long, and Mayor Jennifer Cavanaugh 
Havens students Harper and Millie with their Piedmont chocolate bars, the prize for completing the bingo game. 
Selecting a rainbow of flavors at the Kona Ice truck 
Young families get acquainted at the Newcomers event.