Serendipity 3 in New York City is more than an ice cream shop for many people — it’s a destination. It was just that for Emily McManus of Marietta who always wanted to go to the Upper East Side restaurant famous for its Frozen Hot Chocolate.

“Serendipity,” a romantic comedy starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale, perhaps adds to the intrigue of the restaurant. The two meet by chance and end up eating ice cream together at Serendipity 3. Through a serendipitous circumstance, they reunite years later.

When Emily visited Serendipity on New Year’s Eve with her boyfriend, Steven Rudel, of Marietta it was serendipitous. Steven popped the question and Emily said yes.

Emily and Steven are graduates of Pope High School and University of Georgia. Emily is the daughter of Judy McManus and Fred McManus. Steven is the son of Gail and Mark Rudel.

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On Dec. 13, 39 new members inducted into the First Families of Gilmer County Program including Cobb County residents Mildred Davis Orr Barie of Marietta, Brenda Kay Abernathy Webb of Powder Springs. These new inductees join Kimberly Miller Bates of Acworth and Philip Y. Tankersley of Marietta, who became members of the program in August, honoring their 1840 ancestors.

As of this time the program has welcomed 56 members with two pending. The purpose of the First Families Program is to honor the pioneers who were settled in Gilmer County by 1840 or before, and to recognize those descendants who become members of the First Families Program.

The program is under the leadership of Betty Riddle of Jasper. First Families program encourages those to apply who are directly descended from the early citizens listed on the 1840 Gilmer County Census. Applicants are not required to be currently residing in Gilmer County. Those who apply should have proof without doubt to ties of an ancestor listed in the 1840 Gilmer County Georgia Census. Applicants accepted and approved before the last day of December 2012 will be considered Charter Members.

Primary proof must be through documentation that verifies lineage, generation to generation. Examples: Birth, Death, Marriage Certificates, Deeds and/or Bible Records. Secondary proof or supporting proof is through census records. Tombstone photos are acceptable to verify birth and death dates.

County histories and similar hearsay documents not accepted as proof without Primary or Secondary information.

To obtain an application email bsriddle

@tds.net. For a transcribed copy of the 1840 Census email watkinskd53

@yahoo.com.

Sally Litchfield is a longtime Marietta resident. She formerly practiced law in Marietta and now stays home to raise her two children. Send Sally news at sallylit@bellsouth.net. Call Sally at (770) 425-8106.