Lunch and Listen on the Courthouse Lawn (Fayetteville, GA)

Fayetteville Main Street and Lane Brown Properties presents Lunch on the Lawn Friday, April 26 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the historic Courthouse. The Rick Massengale Trio will perform at this free event and Pies-On Pizza will be on hand selling box lunches.

“We’d love for everyone to come downtown on their lunch hour to relax and enjoy free, live music in a great outdoor atmosphere,” said Jennifer Cleland, Main Street Coordinator. “Changes are beginning to take place on the downtown square and we want people to share in the excitement and to support the businesses.”

Guests may bring their own lunch or purchase a box lunch from Pies-On Pizza. They will have boxed lunches that include chips and a drink with a choice of turkey and cheese sandwiches, slice of pizza or hotdog for only $5.00. During lunch, the Rick Massengale Trio will perform jazz favorites to include Miles Davis, John Coltrane and musical selections of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Ella Fitzgerald.

Mercedes Benz of South Atlanta will be showcasing the all new C-Class Sport model and a CLK convertible. Also, they will be giving away tickets to the 2008 Mercedes Benz of South Atlanta Summer Concert Series.

This year, Main Street will host more than thirteen events downtown. View the 2008 Calendar of Events at: www.downtownfayetteville.org under “Events & Headlines” and visit the Villages Amphitheater website for concert and free event information at: www.villagesamphitheater.com .

Have you ever been really impressed with someone?

We're overrun with outstanding individuals in Fayette County. Every time I turn around it seems I meet someone who's giving... and giving... of their time and resources to help others in the community, and beyond. Most are giving quietly, not tooting their own horn or looking for a pat on the back. They see a need, it tugs at their heart strings, and they're off on a mission.

Lately I've been noticing all the changes going on over at Fayette Senior Services (FSS). Debbie Britt took the helm not too long ago and all I can say is "WOW"! She is doing a fantastic job from all I hear and see. I think I've finally found someone who gets less sleep than I do... she's definitely more energetic. From what I've seen, she's taken FSS to heart and is going way above and beyond to make it a success. She truly seems to have made FSS her mission and seniors across the county are benefiting!

The new Senior Center is impressive in its own right. It is a beautiful new building and there are a lot of major changes in the works. Debbie seems is the perfect person to handle all the challenges that come with big changes.

I first met Debbie via email. She sent a press release to the Fayette Front Page (probably the Fayette Forum back then) at some ridiculously late hour --- I want to say it was around 1 or 2 in the morning. I, of course, was up doing the same silly thing, working. I answered and the beginnings of a late night email friendship of sorts began.

Our paths crossed off and on at events like last year's Tour de Georgia. She did a superb job with the Tour when it came through Peachtree City. It seemed like she had every little thing well in hand and she managed to smile all the way through and find time to talk to everyone demanding a bit of her energy.

The Board at FSS deserves a rousing round of applause for grabbing her - she's a perfect match.

It's clear she's committed to making FSS a success. They are a non-profit offering a wide assortment of activities and support for seniors. They reach out into the community delivering meals to those in need, providing transportation for seniors and other services such as in-home assistance to help seniors live independently as long as possible. FSS does much more. They are a fun center offering more activities than I can include here.

I'm not sure of the exact numbers, but I've heard that membership has grown from around 40 or so to somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 since November. Imagine keeping a hold on that tiger's tale! Add in a huge new building, the need for new services, a strong need for more volunteers and staff, plus all the day-to-day nit picky details like dealing with the government, raising money, putting on events and being a quasi-public relations person! The multi-talented Ms. Debbie is handling it all with a smile and handling it well.

I'm impressed. And yes, I'm still getting late night press releases from her.

Thought it was too easy...

Used to be you could set up a sub page on your website, host the blogger blog on the main site. Gather that tain't how it's done anymore - now you have to buy a domain. Not what I wanted to do... ah well, thought it was too easy!

Testing...

We're adding this blog to the Fayette Front Page. This is a test blog just to see what happens. It used to be difficult to switch a blog onto a website. What I just did was way too easy... it can't be right. We'll see....

Girl Scouts Celebrate Earth Day

Girl Scout members from troops 189, 225, 276, and 455, of service unit 616 recently met with Mayor Kenneth Steele to present a proclamation recognizing April 22 as Earth Day. Girl Scout service unit 616 is hosting this year’s “Fayette County Earth Day” event on Saturday, April 12, at Heritage Park and Main Street.

The day will start with community clean-up projects at county parks and schools, and move to a ‘green theme’ fair with more than 35 exhibitors.

The Honey Creek Boys bluegrass band will perform for some toe-tapping entertainment. There will be food, fun, demonstrations, and displays. The Girl Scouts invite everyone to join in making Fayette County cleaner and greener!

Volunteers Needed: PTC Library Commission & Airport Authority

The City of Peachtree City is seeking volunteers for a term on the Peachtree City Library Commission and for an unexpired term on the Peachtree City Airport Authority.

The Library Commission meets on the second Wednesday of each month and advises the Mayor and City Council on issues relating to the operation of Peachtree City’s Library. The appointment is for a three-year beginning June 1, 2008.

The Airport Authority is a separate legal entity that owns and operates Peachtree City-Falcon Field Airport. The Airport Authority meets on the second Thursday of each month. The appointment will be for the term ending December 31, 2010.

Applications for these volunteer positions are available on the City’s web site, www.peachtree-city.org , under the Jobs page. Library Commission applications are due to City Hall by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 25. Airport Authoity applications are due to City Hall by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 9. Applicants must have lived in Peachtree City for at least 6 months.

For more information, please contact Ms. Nikki Vrana at 770-487-7657.

Simply Southern Tourism to Meet

The Spring meeting of the Simply Southern Tourism Association, Inc. will take place Wednesday, April 9th, at the Fayetteville Historic Train Depot & Welcome Center, 250 Lanier Avenue East, Fayetteville, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm. For directions & RSVP: Jennifer Cleland at 770-719-4173. A light lunch will be served. Simply Southern Tourism Association, Inc., is a Georgia nonprofit corporation organized to enhance economic and community growth through the promotion and development of tourism within the Mid-Central GA / South of Atlanta area. www.simplysoutherntourism.org/

My hummingbirds are back...

Finally. It's truly Spring, life is good and everything is right with the world.

My parents, who live on Lake Oconee, have had hummingbirds for weeks so I figured we were bound to have them here since we're a bit further south. As of this afternoon I hadn't noticed any hummingbirds yet and was just a bit bummed. My office has windows on three sides and overlooks the porch were I put the feeders. I have a great view and would have noticed.

I sneaked down to the studio to play in the clay for a bit this afternoon, going out the back door so I could check the feeders. I've had them out since Easter so I thought I should check to make sure the contents hadn't gone bad. Sure enough they were building crud so I dumped them.

After an hour or so in the studio I came up, grabbed the empty feeder and went in to clean and refill. As I opened the back door to put out fresh food, there sat a hummingbird on the perch patiently waiting for me to bring him his dinner. Definitely a male!

I put one feeder out running him off for a moment or two. As I turned to go inside another one zoomed by buzzing close enough that I felt the breeze.

Now they're both out there. One sitting on the perch guarding his feeders, the other trying to sneak in for a quick nip. Tomorrow I'll put a feeder out near the studio and one around the corner out of site. Hopefully this year I'll attract a few more than in the past.

It's Spring!

FESTIVAL IN THE PARK

KENWOOD PARK
265 Highway 279
Fayetteville, GA 30214

JOIN US FOR A FUN AND FELLOWSHIP DAY AT THE PARK
Saturday, April 19, 2008, 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM.

NETWORK & GET ACQUAINTED WITH NEIGHBORS
PLAY GAMES & SPORTS ACTIVITIES
ENJOY FOOD AND DRINKS
LEARN ABOUT NORTH FAYETTE

SPONSORED BY
THE NORTH FAYETTE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, INC.
P. O. BOX 1671
FAYETTEVILLE, GA 30214
(770) 994-7998