Friday, October 31, 2008

Fayette County School System Now Podcasting Board Meetings and Channel 24 Programming

Audio podcasts of Fayette County Board of Education meetings and Channel 24 videos are now available through the Fayette County school system’s website and the iTunes Store.

Residents who cannot attend meetings of the board of education can now keep up with the latest discussions and item votes by listening to the taped meeting on their computers, usually as soon as the next day.

An RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed has been set up for the podcasts, allowing subscribers to the feed to receive immediate notification as soon as a new podcast is posted. The public can sign up for the free feed by going to the school system’s website, www.fcboe.org, and clicking on the feed link in the center of the page under “Channel 24 Headlines.” Be sure to click on the feed that says “new,” located just under the “board meeting podcast/channel 24 videocast” link. The other RSS feed is for press releases only and will not work for the podcasts.

“We are excited to be able to offer another level of communication to our stakeholders,” says Public Information Specialist Melinda Berry-Dreisbach. “Many times people are not able to attend our public meetings but they are interested in knowing what really happened. Now they can listen to the meetings and hear for themselves how the meeting evolved.”

The public can also sign up for the RSS feed by going to the iTunes Store. Persons who already have the iTunes Store downloaded on their computer can type “FCBOE” in the search box and select “FCBOE Board Meeting Podcasts.”

Because iTunes must review each podcast, it could take as long as one to two weeks before the subscriber is notified. The feed from the school system’s website will provide immediate notification of a new podcast.

Visitors to the podcast page will also notice that they can view videos that are currently airing or have aired on the school system’s educational channel, Comcast Channel 24. There is a separate RSS feed for the videos that can be accessed by clicking on the same feed link as the board meeting podcasts.

“This service has been requested for a long time by our stakeholders. Many Fayette County residents do not have Comcast Cable and a number of our employees live outside of the county. These stakeholders rarely, if ever, get to see the programming that is aired on the channel. Now they will be able to see all videotaped programming. Our next task will be getting the still announcements added to the site so that viewers can see the channel in its entirety,” says Berry-Dreisbach.

Just like the board meeting podcasts, the public can also go to the iTunes Store to sign up for the video feed by typing “FCBOE” in the search box and selecting the feed that says “FCBOE Channel 24 Videocasts.” However, remember that notification of new items may be delayed when using the feed from iTunes versus immediate notification with the feed from the school system’s site.

Anyone who has trouble accessing the podcast and videocast link or needs help with signing up for any of the RSS feeds, can contact Berry-Dreisbach in the Fayette County school system’s public information office, 770-460-3535.

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Editor's Note: There is no charge to use either the RSS or the iTunes Store podcast.

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Thursday, October 30, 2008

Fayette County Pro Golfer Organizes Tournament for Special Needs Students

Johan Kok (right) addresses tournament participants as Chris Horton, director of the Exceptional Children’s Department of the Fayette County School System, looks on.

A former McIntosh High School of Peachtree City graduate turned professional golfer paid it forward by hosting a golf tournament to benefit special needs students in Fayette County schools.

Johan Kok, who graduated from McIntosh in 1998, organized and hosted the “Golf for Autism” tournament recently held at the Flat Creek Golf Club in Peachtree City. 72 golfers turned out to have fun and raise money for a worthy cause.

The Exceptional Children’s Department of the Fayette County School System was the primary recipient of the tournament’s funds. Secondary recipients were the ASPIRE after school program of the Joseph Sams School and the support group, Fayette ExceptionalOPS, which serves students and parents of students with special needs.

In addition to the tournament, a raffle was held and included prizes such as golf bags donated by Ernie Els, a well-known professional golfer and spokesperson for Autism Speaks. Additional sponsors included Ed Voyles Chrysler/Jeep, Georgia Shrimp Company, Bloomfield Farms/Blend Pack, J & H Southern Construction, Mark Gray Insurance, Peachtree Pain and Body, Northstar Mortgage Group, Gary G. Lawson, ExceptionalOPS, AES Cabinets, Kate’s Liquor, Bulldog Supply, Tom and Buffie Davenport, Uniglobe McIntosh Travel and Discount Golf Shop.

Kok hopes to make the tournament an annual event. He played on the professional golf tour in Europe and South Africa before returning to the United States in 2007.

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Booth Middle School's Edinger Named Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year


Peachtree City Wal-Mart representatives Darren Gaddy (far left) and Freda Jones (far right) award Dave Edinger (center left) a $1,000 check as the store’s Teacher of the Year winner as Principal Ted Lombard looks on.


The Peachtree City Wal-Mart has named eighth grade science teacher Dave Edinger of J.C. Booth Middle as its Teacher of the Year.

Edinger received a $1,000 check from Wal-Mart for being selected as the Peachtree City store’s winner.

Wal-Mart’s Teacher of the Year program is one of the largest teacher recognition programs in the country. Since its inception in 1996, the program has recognized nearly 11,000 teachers nationwide and contributed more than $6.6 million in educational grants to schools.

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$ave Your Green on the Green at Crystal Lake Country Club with Toys for Tots

The holidays are upon us and it's time to save some green on the greens!

Grab your sticks and your tee partner and drive to Crystal Lake Country Club this November and save $10 off the published rate for each round. It's simple. Just donate a wrapped toy for the "Toys for Tots" Foundation.

Donate two or more toys for Georgia's needy children and save an additional $5 off per round. Mention the Fayette Front Page to redeem this special offer!

Crystal Lake Country Club is conveniently located just off of Exit 221 on I-75 in Hampton. Call 770-471-3233 to reserve your tee time and a smile for a child.



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Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Fayette County Retired Teacher Honored by the Federal Republic of Germany

The Federal Republic of Germany has awarded the Cross of Merit, First Class, to retired Fayette County High German teacher Mechthild Vogt.

She was officially presented with the honor on October1 during a special ceremony at the Georgia Department of Education. Dr. Lutz Goergens, consul general of the Federal Republic of Germany in Atlanta, presided over the presentation.

The Bundesverdienstkreuz (Federal Cross of Merit) is the only general state decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany, between 3,000 and 5,200 awards are given every year in all eight classes.

Vogt taught German at Fayette County High for 30 years, for 20 of them she sponsored a German-American Partnership exchange program with a high school outside of Frankfurt in Hofheim, Germany. Over 500 German students visited Fayette County during that time, making friends with American students and experiencing American culture first hand. She spent many of her summer vacations taking her students to Germany for three weeks for a similar experience with German culture.

In awarding the Cross of Merit, Goergens credited Vogt with helping people from both countries better understand each other.

“Ms. Vogt, there is more understanding and sympathy for Germany in the United States today as a result of your work. And there is more understanding and sympathy for the United States in Germany,” he said.

Vogt looked back on her career with great satisfaction as she summarized her feelings while finishing her remarks.

“If I have done my part to help with the understanding and with friendships between our peoples, then I feel that I have reached my most ambitious goal and that all my work was worth it,” she said.

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Trunk or Treat Sunday



Pictured are Natalie Johnson, Grace Johnson, and Hannah Todd.

The Lighthouse Church recently celebrated Trunk or Treat Sunday at McIntosh High School in Peachtree City.

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Five Easy Tips to Take Halloween Photos Worth Sharing

(ARA) – It’s the time of the year when costume party and trick-or-treating memories are made, but are you taking the best photos to share with friends and family? If you feel like an amateur behind the lens and your pictures stay trapped on your camera, these tips will help you take photos you’ll be proud to share with others.

Here are five cool tricks to make your photos a treat:

Tip 1: Use the flash indoors and out
For the best outcome, always use the flash when taking photos outdoors. The flash will lighten the shadows on the subject’s face caused by the sun. This applies to photos taken outside – no matter what the season.

Tip 2: Take plenty of candid shots to capture the real magic
Take a combination of posed and candid shots to capture the spirit of Halloween. Record meaningful moments such as your family trick-or-treating or children carving a jack-o’-lantern. Try following a child and capturing candid shots at their height-level. Don’t be shy in snapping the shutter; taking several photos will make sure you catch the magic of the evening.

Tip 3: Practice the rule of thirds
Add personality and balance to your photos by dividing the frame into three equal parts. Imagine two imaginary horizontal and two vertical lines in your viewfinder. Some cameras offer a setting to automatically place these lines to make it easier. Position the subject at one of the four points where the lines intersect. Composing your shot using this rule of thumb will create a nicely-balanced, eye-pleasing photo.

Tip 4: Make photo sharing effortless by adding wireless to the camera you already own
Imagine sharing photos of your favorite Halloween moment before you even hand out the last fistful of candy. By using Eye-Fi’s wireless SD memory card, you can turn the camera you already own into a wireless camera. Eye-Fi will automatically upload photos from your camera to your home computer and favorite online photo sharing site like Shutterfly or Kodak Gallery. Plus, storing photos online will keep them safe in case you lose your photo albums in a fire or if your computer is ever stolen or infected by a virus.

Tip 5: Organize your photos with “geotagging”
Geotagging, or adding a “tag” to your photo with the location of where it was taken, helps keep your images organized within your online photo sharing site. As photo memories accumulate within your gallery, you can organize them by location and provide context that will last for years to come. The Eye-Fi Explore wireless memory card automatically tags photos with location information, eliminating the time and hassle of manually doing it yourself. You can also use this information to help plot your photos on a map to record your Halloween travels.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Hospice Advantage Celebrates November as National Hospice Month

BB Note: Hospice Advantage has been active in Fayette County for the last two years.

Millions of people received care from hospice professionals this year. In honor of all those individuals that work so hard to ensure that people have a choice to receive care at home, Hospice Advantage is celebrating November as National Hospice Month by honoring their employees and community partners and reaching out to educate people in the communities they serve.

“Our patients often tell us that they wish they knew about us sooner. We are dedicating this year’s National Hospice Month celebrations to education in our communities.” says Jeanne Pete, Director of Business Development at Hospice Advantage. “There are many benefits to hospice, including financial benefits. Many people do not know that the Medicare hospice benefit includes payment of medications, equipment and supplies related to the hospice diagnosis.

Many people also don’t know that hospice can promote longer life.” A recent study published in the Journal of Pain and Palliative Symptom Management indicates that patients suffering from Chronic Heart Failure that choose hospice care, lived an average of 81 days longer than patients with CHF that did not choose hospice care. Mrs. Pete adds, “We want people to know that they should not wait until the final days or weeks of life to choose the help of hospice.”

To celebrate National Hospice Month, Hospice Advantage will recognize employees at their annual awards banquet held in Miami, FL. Caregivers of the year will be rewarded for exemplifying the company’s tag line of Care, Comfort and Compassion. The events at participating facilities in their communities will include free health screenings, education about advanced directives and educational videos on Hospice.

In Michigan and Wisconsin, HOME & HOSPICE ADVANTAGE provides Home Health and Hospice services. Additionally, the company provides Hospice services throughout Alabama, Georgia, Kansas and Missouri. In FL, the company operates a home health care agency d.b.a. ALL CARE MEDICAL SERVICES.

For Information, call Hospice Advantage Fayetteville Ga 678-817-4180.

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Monday, October 27, 2008

Honor Flight Fayette at World War II Memorial




Pictured at the Georgia portion of the World War II monument are (l-r) veteran William Jackson, guardian Allen Smith and veteran John Dailey.

On October 8th, Honor Flight Fayette completed its 2nd day trip to Washington, D.C. with a precious cargo of WWII veterans. Because their memorial was completed less than 5 years ago, many veterans felt they would never see it due to medical or financial reasons. Honor Flight Fayette took care of those concerns by covering all expenses for these members of the greatest generation as well as providing guardians and medical assistance for them throughout the day. The guardians each paid their own way and medical personnel raised the money needed through donations.

This 501(c)(3) non-profit organization will not accept any money from the veterans and 100% of money raised is used totally for the trip. There is a board of directors to guide this effort and each one of them, as well as guardians, medical personnel and volunteers, gives generously of their time and talents to keep this project going as we are losing these vets at the rate of over 1,400 each day.

The vets started the day at Fayetteville First United Methodist Church with Chick-fil-A biscuits, had box lunches under tents close to the memorial and finished with a catered meal at the USO facility at Reagan Airport.

Fayetteville First Methodist Church and First Baptist Church of Fayetteville provided buses to get everyone to the airport, and the group traveled in comfortable motor coaches around the nation's capitol.

The veterans especially enjoyed the reception they received everywhere they went as crowds of airline employees, travelers and active military personnel greeted them with cheers, hugs and salutes. However, they also were excited to meet Sen. Bob Dole, who was instrumental in getting the WWII monument built and who comes to meet as many honor flight groups from around the country as possible.

"Mail call" on the flight up to D.C. was a favorite also as the veterans read letters written especially to each of them by members of Jo Springer's 5th grade class at Huddleston Elementary school. Many of the vets said they planned to write back to the students and tell them how much their letters meant to them.

If you would like to learn more about this worthwhile organization, be of assistance or donate toward this cause, please check honorflightfayette.org or call 770-719-1024.

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Saturday, October 25, 2008

Birds of Prey Program at Sams Lake Bird Sanctuary November 8

Winged Ambassadors Environmental will bring an exceptional live wildlife show to Sams Lake Bird Sanctuary on Saturday afternoon November 8th .

Several trained non-releasable birds of prey will perform soaring free flight demonstrations over the wetlands.

Master Falconer Dale Arrowood will showcase the differences and similarities between a variety of raptor and owl families.

Birds may include eagles, hawks, owls, falcons, or vultures . These birds are not “trick animals”, they simply do what comes naturally to them.

Guests will learn about the raptors’ role as environmental indicators and the importance of protecting wildlife habitat as our wetlands, fields and forests transform into concrete and rooftops.

This exciting and educational program begins at 1pm. on Saturday November 8th . The rain date will be Saturday afternoon, December 13th.

Admission is $4 per person. Proceeds will be split between the Trust and Winged Ambassadors Environmental for care of the birds.

Sams Lake is on Old Senoia Road, south of Redwine Road just outside Fayetteville. For more information and directions, visit the Trust’s website sctlandtrust.org or email info@sctlandtrust.org .

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Friday, October 24, 2008

Costume Concert for Kids October 31 in Fayette County

The Sandy Creek High School Chorus will present a mini-variety show on October 31. Show times are 4:30 and 5:30 at the Sandy Creek High Patriot Hall Auditorium.

Be sure to wear your costumes!

Admission is $5 per person. Proceeds will be used for the upcoming Chorus trip to Carnegie Hall in New York City.

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Thursday, October 23, 2008

Peachtree City United Methodist Church Announces Thanksgiving Dinner

The Peachtree City United Methodist Church will be serving Thanksgiving Dinner on November 19th at 5:00 and 6:30. The menu includes: Turkey and Dressing Casserole, Cranberry Orange Relish, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Corn, Rolls, Pumpkin pie. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the church at 770-487-6499. The cost of the dinner is $7.50 for adults, $3.00 for children (2-10) with a maximum of $20.00 per family.
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Movie Night Fundraiser in Peachtree City to Benefit Lazers Premier Boys Soccer Team

Movie Night at Baseball Soccer Complex in Peachtree City on November 8th-
Presented by the Lazers '96 Boys

On Saturday, November 8th, bring your blankets and come support the '96 Lazers Premier Boys Soccer Team in their fundraising efforts to raise money for their July 2009 trip to play soccer at the Dana Cup tournament in Denmark. The movie of the night is "Journey to the Center of the Earth", Starring Brendan Fraser. Doors open at 5:00 PM, Movie starts at 7:00 PM. Food and concessions available for purchase. Pre-sale Admission: $5.00 adults / $3.00 children (children under 3 are free). Prices at the Door: $8.00 adults / $5.00 children (children under 3 are free).

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Free Outdoor Concert at Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Peachtree City

Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church announces a free outdoor concert on Sunday, Oct. 26, at 6:00 p.m. at the church in Peachtree City. GraceFlock, the church’s contemporary worship band, is releasing a second compact disc, “Alive in the Lamb.” The concert will feature these new songs, written by members Lans Rothfusz and Gary Pederson. “Alive in the Lamb” follows the group’s successful first CD, “Living Treasures.” The public is invited and encouraged to bring a lawn chair. Refreshments will be provided. In case of rain, the church’s sanctuary will be used.
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Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Peachtree City's Pumpkin Alley


Pumpkins of every shape and size are found at station 81 on Paschal Rd. and station 83 on S. Peachtree Pkwy in Peachtree City.

The annual pumpkin sale by the Peachtree City Fire Department is well underway. Prices range from $2 to $11.

The pumpkin sale, in conjunction with the Haunted House, is the largest fundraiser for the fire department.

Stop in to select the perfect pumpkin for carving.

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Tuesday, October 21, 2008

The Spooky Legend of the Peachtree City Fire Department Lives on October 24 and 25

Don't accept these ladies' offer to sit down as did this brave young man! Look closely at the chair, fondly known as Mr. Sparky... Wander through the woods on the Haunted Trail at the PTC Fire Department's fundraiser and see other visions of horror!

Every year at the beginning of October, a strange and mysterious event happens at the Peachtree City Fire Department. The brave men and women who are charged with rescuing us and fighting fires morph into ghouls, chainsaw toting wild men and, well, just general spirits of the night.

It's the time of year where the Peachtree City Fire Department gets fired up about fall. They sponsor their two largest fundraisers of the year during this time. The first event, is pumpkin selling. The other event is their annual Haunted House and Haunted Trail. While the Haunted House is designed by the firefighters, the Haunted Trail is designed by the Explorer Post, a group of ghouls, er, firefighters in training.

We stopped in to check on the progress of the haunted house preparations and were welcomed by smiling firefighters into their burn house. The burn house, normally used for training, is magically transformed into a 10 room haunted house over a three week period and about 200 hours of labor. Each room has a different theme and is created by different teams. These teams delve deep into their imaginations to bring each room to life for a maximum scare factor.

The firefighters are quick to point out this is not for the faint of heart. While they would not give us the details of the theme rooms, they did tell us there would be numerous exits and firefighters in everyday clothing to quickly remove their hysterical guests. Our tour guide, Stephanie Furey, grinned as she said, "Oh yeah" when asked about different ghouls and goblins being present in the house.

During the four nights the Haunted House and Trail are open, the Fire Department anticipates close to 1000 victims, ummm, "guests" to tour their creations.

In order to answer the burning question in my mind about these seemingly mild mannered protectors of our community, I must first ask "Whatever happened to the volunteers?" Do I dare find out? Do you?

Hours of Operation
7:00 pm-11:00pm
20-30 min for the tour
Expect 30 min wait at peak times

Oct 24 and 25

Student $8
Adults $10

Not recommended for children under 11 or for anyone who scares easily. There is a moonwalk for the younger set.

Fayette Front Page Staff Report

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Robbery at McDonalds in Peachtree City

I'm not sure why this particular crime (see below for news release) struck such a sour note for me, but it did. It's not just the fact that the robbers stole the three Ronald McDonald charity boxes, which is low. I think it's the idea that here in Fayette County this kind of crime is happening at all.

I've lived in Fayette County for well over 20 years. We've grown quite a bit, so an increase in crime is probably to be expected. However, I am seeing more and more of the "typical" crimes that occur in large cities and larger communities happening in our backyard. Crime has changed and crime has increased. I don't like it, and I'm sure you don't either.

Stores robbed at gunpoint, car jackings, and other crimes are on the rise. Sure, some say they're perpetrated by people from outside the county in most cases. They're still happening, and they're happening in the places we frequent. We now have more things in this county that act as magnets: more restaurants, more stores, more of everything that attracts a criminal element.

I hate to write about, or even think about, things like crime, murder and mayhem. The Fayette Front Page focuses on the good news and on the vast majority of great citizens in our wonderful community. But we also promise we'll give you the straight facts and let you know when bad things occur, without any hype or sensationalization, too. Our readers are intelligent and don't need us to interpret for them!

What's the answer to growing crime in our county? Bigger and better minds than mine have been struggling with this one for years. I think it's important for a community to be aware of the facts, then to band together to do everything possible to support law enforcement and look for other ways to help minimize occurrences like the one in the news release below.

Yes, we're growing and changing, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't focus on the best and fight the worst! - JMD, Editor Fayette Front Page / Georgia Front Page

Here's the story that sparked my diatribe :
On October 21, 2008 at approximately 5:30 a.m., officers were dispatched to
the McDonalds Restaurant located at 709 Crossings East in the Peachtree Crossing
Shopping Center. According to the police report, upon arriving for work
the restaurant’s employees discovered that a large rock had been thrown through
a window on the east side of the building. When Peachtree City Police
Officer’s arrived on scene it was determined that the restaurant had been
burglarized and that three Ronald McDonald charity boxes had been taken during
the burglary. Detectives from the Police Department’s Criminal
Investigation Division responded to the location to process the scene for
evidence. The case is still under investigation at this time.

If anyone has information that would assist the Police
Department in this or other incidents, please contact the Peachtree City Police
Department’s Criminal Investigations Division at 770-631-2510 or the Crime and
Narcotics Information Hotline, (770) 487-6010. You may remain
anonymous.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Cattle Barons’ Ball in the Pink


Guests at the 2008 Cattle Barons’ Ball on Saturday, Nov. 8, will be tickled pink by this year’s Champagne and Diamonds game, which offers the chance to win a stunning necklace valued at nearly $5,000.

The necklace, donated by Mucklow’s Fine Jewelry in Peachtree City and designed by Robert Mucklow’s friend, designer David B., features a pear-shaped pink sapphire weighing 1.42 carats that is surrounded by 18 round diamonds. The sapphire dangles from an 18-carat, 16-inch, white gold, woven chain adorned with 16 additional round diamonds set in interlocking moving bezels. (The total diamond weight is .80 carats.)

Only 120 guests will have the opportunity to buy a $50 chance to win the sapphire and diamond necklace. Each chance comes with a souvenir glass of pink champagne.

The annual Western-style ball, to be held at Canongate at Whitewater Creek Country Club in Fayetteville, features food, music, dancing, a silent auction, games and more. All proceeds from the event go toward supporting the local programs of the American Cancer Society, including research, education and advocacy. In the last five years, the ball has raised more than $800,000 for the ACS. The ball is open to anyone interested in supporting this worthy cause.

For more information or to buy tickets to the 2008 Cattle Barons’ Ball Fayette County, visit the ACS office at 301 Kelly Drive, Peachtree City, GA 30269; call 770-631-0625 (phone); or, visit www.barronsball.com. Tickets can also be purchased at Boulignini Shoes & Accessories, Katie’s Liquor, Beer & Fine Wine and Mucklow’s Fine Jewelry in Peachtree City.
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Line Creek Nature Area is Finalist for Save the Trails™ Funding

Southern Conservation Trust invites local residents to vote at www.wheresyours.com before October 31st.

Southern Conservation Trust is pleased to announce that the Line Creek Nature Area is among 20 finalists in a competition for Save the Trails™ funding through Nature Valley® and the American Hiking Society. Line Creek was selected from a competitive pool of 160 trail projects located throughout the nation.

“We’re honored to be a finalist for Save the Trails funding,” said Abby Jordan, the Trust’s Executive Director. “This money would help us improve the trails at Line Creek, our most popular of three preserves the Trust manages. I hope that outdoor enthusiasts will log on to www.wheresyours.com by October 31st and support us with your vote.”

Save the Trails, in cooperation with the National Trails Fund, will award $5,000 to each of the top 10 finalists, based on online votes, to restore and revitalize hiking trails in their communities. Voting is open to the public now through Oct. 31, 2008, at www.wheresyours.com.

“Hiking trails are gateways to nature’s greatest experiences, but they need regular maintenance to ensure their longevity and safety,” said Gregory A. Miller, president of American Hiking Society. “The National Trails Fund is dedicated to preserving America’s hiking trails, and Nature Valley’s generous donation has doubled the size of this year’s fund. All area outdoor enthusiasts will benefit from the funding if Line Creek is selected by online voters.”

Southern Conservation Trust, the only land trust protecting greenspace in the Southern Crescent, applied for the American Hiking Society National Trails Fund earlier this fall to repair hiking trails at the Line Creek Nature Area, located on Hwy 54 between Peachtree City and Newnan. Funds will be used to upgrade the trail surface and install trail signs. More information on the Trust and its preserves may be found at sctlandtrust.org.

Nature Valley launched Save the Trails in June 2008 with a $50,000 contribution to the National Trails Fund. The annual fund’s sole purpose is to preserve our nation’s trails. Save the Trails funding recipients will be announced in April 2009; all funds are to be used towards trail restoration during summer 2009.

“National Trails Fund finalists were selected from a competitive pool, which was a record number topping 160 applications,” said Martin Abrams, Nature Valley marketing. “We’re grateful to be working with the American Hiking Society and truly excited to see how the National Trails Fund is piquing interest in hiking trails in local communities across the country. We are committed to helping make hiking trails enjoyable and accessible while protecting and preserving nature. Support your favorite trail at www.wheresyours.com.”

Since its inception in 1998, the National Trails Fund has granted nearly $340,000 to 89 different trail projects across the United States. Community preservation efforts include land acquisition, constituency building campaigns and a variety of trail work projects. With more than 200,000 miles of trails in the United States, the National Trails Fund is the only national private grants program that helps trail-maintaining organizations build and improve hiking trails and galvanize volunteers to ensure long-term trail sustainability.
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Friday, October 17, 2008

Susan Boggs Selected as Fayette DFCS Director

Susan Boggs has been selected as the new Fayette County DFCS Director. Boggs graduated from Lagrange College (BA) and is currently working on Masters degree in Criminal Justice at Columbus College. She has 16 years experience with DFCS doing CPS, Resource Development and Foster Care. She is currently County Director in Pike County. Prior to working with DFCS she spent 4 years as Director at the Griffin RYDC. Her start date is officially 10/16/08. However, she will need a couple of weeks to transition from her current director duties.

Thanks to Fayette FACTOR for sharing this with us.

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Thursday, October 16, 2008

Allagnon to Preside Over Georgia State French Organization

Foreign language chair at Sandy Creek High, Stephane Allagnon, has been elected president of the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF), Georgia Chapter.

“This is certainly a honor for him and for Fayette County. I know he will represent French teachers well in Georgia,” says Cathy Geis, foreign language and social studies coordinator for Fayette County Schools.

As president, Allagnon will preside over meetings of the chapter as well as appoint the director of the AATF National French Contest, members of all special committees and the delegates to the national convention of the AATF. He will also be responsible for processing and ranking applications for the AATF summer scholarship as well as appointing directors to administer various state-level contests.

Allagnon replaces Dr. Kristin Hoyt of Kennesaw State University. His term will be for two years.

The mission of the American Association of Teachers of French, Georgia Chapter is to assist the national chapter in representing the French language in North America and encourage the dissemination of knowledge concerning all aspects of the culture and civilization of France and the French-speaking world to both schools and the general public.

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Joel Cowan to Speak to Fayette County Historical Society

The Fayette County Historical Society cordially invites the community to join us Sunday, October 19th at 3 p.m. at 195 Lee Street, Fayetteville for our monthly meeting. This month continues our series of locals sharing an oral history of our community. Joel Cowan, founder and developer of Peachtree City, will share his first hand experience. Next year marks the 50th Anniversary of Peachtree City. Come and hear how it all began. Come and join us, we’ll enjoy light refreshments afterwards.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Fayette Teachers Participate in Weightless Flight

Tammy Pakulski during weightless flight onboard G-Force One.

Two of Fayette County's teachers became zeronauts for a day and both thought their experience was, pardon the pun, out of this world.

Carol Taylor, a math teacher at Rising Starr Middle, and Tammy Pakulski, a science teacher at JC Booth Middle, took part in the Northrop Grumman Foundation Weightless Flights of Discovery Program on October 7. The teachers were participants in a zero gravity flight that is comparable to what astronauts experience in space.

“The experience was out of this world; it was fabulous,” says Taylor upon her arrival back to earth. “It was a fun and rewarding experience with applications connecting to classroom concepts. My accelerated students studied the vertical motion model while I was gone and I was able to discuss how the flight was a perfect example of what they learned.”

Here’s how the weightless flight works. The airplane, a 727 called G-Force One, climbs at a 50-degree angle, topping off at 31,500 feet and then goes into freefall creating a weightless environment inside the plane for 25-30 seconds. The maneuver is completed a total of 15 times giving participants about 6-7 minutes of weightless flight.

“The flight was much smoother than I had expected. Going weightless was actually a very peaceful experience,” says Pakulski. “The 1.8 Gs we experienced on the climb was not as bad as I thought it would be. You pull more Gs on the Mindbender at Six Flags.”

Both teachers have reached celebrity status at their schools, appearing on the closed circuit TV announcements and getting bombarded by students.

“When I returned to school I was mobbed by students, many I didn’t even know. They all wanted to know about the experience, “ says Pakulski.

Taylor was a special guest during her school’s morning announcements.

“I was dressed in my flight suit with my certificate in hand along with our school agenda and panther mascot that went along for the ride with me. The students have been extremely responsive school wide,” she says.

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Turkey Trot at Spring Hill Set for November 8

Spring Hill Elementary will host the 5th annual 5K/ 1mile Turkey Trot on November 8th, 2008. The one mile will begin at 8 a.m., and the 5K will begin at 8:30.

Registration is $20 per runner until Oct. 24th, and $25 thereafter. The race is part of the Elementary Grand Prix Series with 17 age group categories, and great door prizes!

Race profits support both Spring Hill and the Fayette Youth Protection Home. For a printable application visit the school website @ www.springhillsuns.org . For question email coordinator at getfitnow@bellsouth.net.

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Coweta County Welcomes Nationally Known Economist October 22

The Coweta County Economic Summit is a "must attend" for business owners, business professionals, elected officials, candidates for office, and all citizens interested in the future of Coweta's local economy.

Nationally known economist William H. "Bill" Fruth will conduct Coweta County's first-ever Economic Summit, Wednesday, October 22, 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon, at the Centre for Performing and Visual Arts of Coweta County, 1523 Lower Fayetteville Road, Newnan. Coffee, Danishes, and networking will be available at 8:00 a.m. Admission is free.

Bill Fruth is certainly not considered a typical "run-of-the-mill" economist. Unlike many of his colleagues who spend much of their lives in an academic setting, Fruth has mostly "walked the walk" in both the private and public sectors.

After earning his Bachelor and Master degrees from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, Bill Fruth began his economic journey in 1980, when he was elected to serve as the full-time Mayor of Tiffin, Ohio. It was quite a challenge, as manufacturing companies / jobs were leaving town, the nation was in the grip of a deep recession, and the city's economy and finances had
reached crisis level.

Facing the unthinkable, a relatively young Mayor Fruth had no other choice but to become heavily involved in economic and community development, in order to save his city from financial collapse. His hard work and accomplishments drew accolades from across the State, and Fruth was named one of "Five Outstanding Young Men of Ohio" before finishing his term in
office.

Bill Fruth's rise to notoriety in the economic development field soon led him to Palm Beach County, Florida, where he served as president of the Business Development Board. Once again, Fruth earned statewide recognition, and was named Florida Economic Development Professional of the Year in 1987.

It wasn't long before private industry took notice of Bill Fruth's accomplishments. He embraced the opportunity and served as Vice President of a major industrial land development company from 1988-1995. Fruth's responsibilities included directing the development and marketing of a
500-acre corporate park in West Palm Beach, Florida.

In 1996, Bill Fruth founded POLICOM Corporation, an independent economics research firm, located in Palm City, Florida. For the past twelve years, he has specialized in studying the dynamics of local economies, whether they are growing or declining, and what may be causing this to happen.

Fruth has personally evaluated more than 600 economies across the Nation. He has created more than 150 community studies, and since 1998, has provided presentations and workshops for state associations and communities in 32 states.

Bill Fruth is recognized by the Florida Administrative Court as an expert witness regarding local economies. He is the author of Where the Money Is ... America's Strongest Local Economies, along with numerous economic articles for newspapers and trade magazines.

Bill Fruth's presentation style may come as a surprise to those who have suffered through dry, often uninspiring economics lectures. To the contrary, he provides a fast-paced, entertaining, but mostly thought provoking analysis. Fruth's numbers are based on reality, rather than theory, and his purpose is to generate discussion of what makes an economy strong, and what each community must do to improve its economic condition and quality of life.

As a segment of the Coweta County Economic Summit, Fruth will first present examples of some of the strongest and weakest economies in the Nation. He'll then examine Coweta County's own economic strengths and weaknesses, and further compare them to those of Fayette County, Cobb County, Gainesville, GA, Auburn-Opelika, AL, the Atlanta area, and Georgia.

As Bill Fruth explained, "The purpose of this summit goes beyond presenting Coweta's economic strengths and weaknesses. I'd like to encourage discussion of what your community must do to further improve its economy during these difficult times, while motivating community leaders to work as one toward a common goal of long-term economic prosperity and a better standard of living for all citizens."

The Coweta County Economic Summit is sponsored by AT&T, Atlanta Gas Light, Coweta-Fayette EMC, Georgia Power, and Newnan Utilities. For reservations and further information, contact the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce at 770-253-2270.

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Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Family-Friendly Comedian is ‘Just Pure Laughs’ at PTC First Presbyterian October 19


First Presbyterian Church of Peachtree City will be hosting family-friendly comedian and worship leader Dan McGowan in a concert titled “Just Pure Laughs” on Sunday, October 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. This will be the second concert given during the church’s 2008-2009 Concert Series season.

Dan McGowan is known for delighting audiences of all ages with his observational humor, parody songs, and interactive hilarity. Dan was most recently seen auditioning last season on NBC’s Last Comic Standing which led to his opening for Kathleen Madigan, national touring comedian and judge for Last Comic Standing.

In addition to being a clean comedian, Dan has been serving churches in the area of Creative Worship for over 30 years. Currently, he serves as Music and Worship Director at Faith Church outside Denver, Colorado.

This concert is free to the community. A love offering will be taken. Childcare will be available for children ages 4 and younger.

First Presbyterian Church is located in Peachtree City at 206 Willowbend Rd. across from the library and city hall. For more information, please call (770) 487-7757 or email concerts@firstpresptc.com.

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Monday, October 13, 2008

Halloween H.E.A.T. No TREAT For DUI’s: Drive Drunk and The Party’s Over!

Don’t let your Halloween weekend turn into a nightmare!

Halloween is a fun fall holiday tradition for all ages. Unfortunately a nationwide spike in Halloween drunk driving incidents every year also makes this celebration one of the most dangerous times to be on the road.

On Halloween nearly half of all fatal crashes are alcohol-related.

All that “Night of the Dead” stuff used to be just a harmless mix of ancient legend and Hollywood hype. Now, 44-percent of all highway fatalities across the nation on Halloween night involve drivers with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. And on Halloween nights when costumed children run out onto our streets and roadways the trick for every driver is to stay alert and sober to avoid tragedy.

Drive Drunk and The Party’s Over

“Cinco de Mayo, St. Patrick’s Day, and now, Halloween have morphed into truly terrifying nights of deadly drinking and driving deaths on the Georgia social calendar,” says Director Bob Dallas of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. “Halloween should be a time for scary costumes, trick or treats with the kids, and good family fun. But we’re not talking kids’-stuff anymore. And neither are the cops. That’s why state and local traffic enforcement in communities across Metro Atlanta will be out in force this Halloween with a high visibility DUI enforcement blitz to crack down on drunk drivers.”

Weekend DUI Crackdown NO TREAT For Drunk Drivers

To keep your Halloween party-plans from melting down into nightmares, on Friday, October 24th, H.E.A.T. Units from the Atlanta Police Department will team-up with HEAT Units from Dekalb County and the Georgia State Patrol NightHawks to conduct Halloween road-checks and concentrated patrols around the Atlanta Metro Area. For more information the night of the crackdown, contact APD Sgt. Ron Miniatis at 404-209-5260.

..And This is No Skeleton Crew! Peachtree City PD will also be conducting joint Halloween HEAT patrols with the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Fayetteville PD, Coweta HEAT, and Georgia State Patrol units in their jurisdiction the same night.

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Thursday, October 09, 2008

Fayette County Invited to Go Red for Red Ribbon Week

Fayette County students and teachers will join millions nationwide in wearing red ribbons to support healthy lifestyles during Red Ribbon Week October 27-31.

This national celebration has become a major force for raising public awareness and mobilizing communities to combat drug use and underage drinking among youth. Research shows that early drug use is associated with negative consequences such as higher school dropout rates and a greater likelihood of violence and using weapons.

The community can help fight drug and alcohol use among youth during Red Ribbon Week by wearing a red ribbon during October 27-31 to show support, encouraging their workplaces to support Red Ribbon Week and getting involved in Red Ribbon Week events at schools throughout the county.

Many schools have planned activities for each day of the week including contests, spirit days and special assemblies. For the first time, Spring Hill Elementary will have a Red Ribbon Pep Rally in conjunction with students from Fayette Middle and Whitewater High schools. The Fayette Middle band and chorus along with the Whitewater High cheerleaders and football players will speak to the elementary students about the achievements they can make by staying drug free.

“Bringing in the older students creates relevance for our students because they see the success of their older peers,” says Tania Wismer, physical education teacher at Spring Hill Elementary School.

Sandy Creek High will be decked out in red beginning October 27 as the school’s Patriot Ambassadors decorate the school in preparation for the week’s festivities that include a Natural High Notebook competition, Wear Red contest and Red Run.

Both Sandy Creek and Whitewater High Schools will have a special assembly on October 22 featuring former DeKalb County District Attorney J Tom Morgan. He has written a book titled “Ignorance is No Defense, A Teenager’s Guide to Georgia Law.” His presentation will provide details on topics ranging from alcohol, driving, parties, misrepresentation of age or identity and age of consent.

Red Ribbon Week is an opportune time for families, communities and educators to unite in their efforts to prevent drug and alcohol use among youth. Please contact the school in your area to learn how you can get involved in Red Ribbon Week celebrations.

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Braelinn Elementary School Earns Award from "PTO Today"


It was all smiles recently at Braelinn Elementary School in Peachtree City when the announcement came from PTO Today Magazine. The Editor's Choice Award for Outstanding Major Project was presented to the Braelinn Elementary School PTO for the completion of a major renovation of the outdated gym floor.

Much of the capital for the project was provided through a string of ingenious fundraising activities spearheaded by the PTO. These activities included sales at a movie night, and an envelope drive, and matching contributions by a Braelinn family. Congratulations to PTO President Rebecca Bankey, Principal Wenonah Bell, and Coach Jill Collins for their dedication to this project.

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Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Chamber Forum on Education Funding Sobering

In an effort to educate the community on the complex issues of education funding, the Chamber presented a forum on October 2nd featuring a very knowledgeable panel of key national, state, and local speakers, each with particular expertise in education funding. Following their presentations, the speakers were available for a question and answer session.

To begin at the national level, Mr. Dennis Bega, Senior Policy Advisor, US Department of Education, spoke about the No Child Left Behind congressional statute (NCLB). The intent of NCLB was to ensure that all students had the opportunity to receive an education that would allow them to maximize their potential. Despite an increase in federal funding to help school districts comply with requirements, NCLB has created budget challenges at the local level.

Representative Jan Jones, Vice Chairman, House Appropriations Committee – Education, gave an informative overview of the State Education Budget. Funding for education is a primary responsibility of state government with 39% of the total budget going to K-12 education. Due to the economic slowdown, a 3.5% reduction in education funding will likely occur next year. State Funds account for a little over 50% of public school funding on average. The remainder is funded by Federal (7.19%) and local (41.27%) dollars. Local funding statewide consists of property tax and E-SPLOST (optional) revenues.

The local perspective was given by Dr. John DeCotis, Superintendent, Fayette County Board of Education. Dr. DeCotis spoke on the excellence of the Fayette County public school system based on a variety of state and national standards, detailed current needs and where cuts have already been made. The Fayette County Board of Education is asking Fayette County residents to consider a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) to help make up budget shortfalls as state funding for education is reduced. Based on declines in sales tax receipts, the Governor’s office anticipates a K-12 funding reduction of 2% for this year ($153 million) and 3.5% ($229 million) for 2010.

Dr. DeCotis also outlined the projects that would be funded by the E-SPLOST if it passes.

The forum provided an opportunity for citizens to gain a broad perspective on the issue before they vote in November. The entire forum will be posted on the Chamber website at www.FayetteChamber.org.

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Tuesday, October 07, 2008

"Night of Worship" at First Presbyterian Church in PTC Set for October 12


Join First Presbyterian Church in Peachtree City for a "Night of Worship" on Sunday, October 12 at 6 pm.

First Presbyterian Church in Peachtree City is one of the oldest churches in Peachtree City and is located in the heart of the city across from City Hall on Willowbend Rd.

For more information, click here.

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Whitewater High School Student Inventors Win $10,000 MIT Grant

FL Note: Congratulations to the Whitewater High School students who will be working on the prototype of their invention. All of Fayette County is pulling for your success!

A group of high school students might have the solution to end the world’s shortage of clean drinking water. So impressed with their idea was the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) that it awarded them a $10,000 grant to develop a prototype.

Five students who make up the InvenTeam at Whitewater High are one of only 16 teams throughout the US and Canada to receive a Lemelson-MIT grant for the 2008-2009 school year. The students are Kavita Singh, Chris Sandwich, Jacob Cotton, Andrew Barth and Hendri deBeer.

InvenTeams are composed of high school students, teachers and mentors who collaboratively identify a problem that they want to solve, research the problem and then develop a prototype invention as an in-class or extracurricular project.

The Whitewater team decided to create a combination dehydrator and condenser that will preserve food while purifying the water that results from the dehydration process.

This team is the first in Fayette to win a grant. InvenTeam is expected to release a final list of grant winners later this month, but so far only one other Georgia team has won a grant since the program began in 2003.

Whitewater submitted an initial application for the grant last spring and received an Excite Award, an invitation to complete a final, more detailed application of the idea. The selection of the finalist teams is based on the inventiveness and feasibility of the proposed idea. A panel of MIT professors, staff and alumni, inventors, researchers, entrepreneurs and high school educators assess the applications.

The team will use the grant money to purchase materials and supplies needed to develop a prototype of their invention. They will have all school year to complete the prototype. The team will display and discuss their invention at the MIT EurekaFest this spring.

Whitewater teachers working with the InvenTeam students are Carolyn Smith, engineering and technology, and Dr. Ted Wansley, science.

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Friday, October 03, 2008

Peeples Kindergarten Students Anticipate Their Futures

Students in photo: (L-R) Thomas King - archaeologist, Connor Shannon - scientist, Luke Wittbrodt - artist, Olivia Lewis -Vet Nurse, Shelby Gray- Florist

Kindergarten students at Peeples Elementary have been studying the importance of community helpers. Recently, students participated in a Job Day celebration showing what they wanted to be when they grow up.



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Leadership Fayette Starts a New Class

Leadership Fayette 2008-2009 is off to a great start! Co-Chairs Vicki Turner - AIS Computers and Sharron Singletary – ExecuServe, kicked-off the popular program on Tuesday, September 16th at the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce. Lunch was provided by the Season Tickets Sports Bar and Grill. For many years, the Chamber’s Leadership Fayette Program has helped develop and educate business and community leaders about important aspects of Fayette County. Participants develop relationships with other leaders from a diverse group of organizations and backgrounds. Leadership skills are developed by working together on team projects that benefit Fayette County.

Mayors Harold Logsdon of Peachtree City, Ken Steele of Fayetteville, Dan Rehwaldt of Tyrone and Gary Laggis of Woolsey joined the class for lunch. Each Mayor delivered an overview of their city/town and presented projects to the four teams. Virginia Gibbs, Chamber President presented an overview of the Chamber of Commerce. The class guidelines and monthly agendas were presented, and each class member or mentor was asked to give an introduction. At the end of the day the class broke into four teams and met with individual Mentors to discuss a strategy for the upcoming months. The Fayette County Chambers’ Leadership Fayette program will play a visible roll in the community during the next six months as they pursue their group projects. It will be a win-win for all!

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Thursday, October 02, 2008

Fayette County School System Annual Publication Goes Electronic

The 2007-2008 Annual Report for the Fayette County School System is now available for download on the school system’s website.

This marks the first time that the annual report has been distributed electronically instead of in traditional print format. Residents who have signed up for the school system’s RSS feed automatically received the publication last week.

The move to distribute the publication electronically resulted in a savings of over $7,000 in printing costs.

A limited number of printed copies are available for residents who do not have access to a computer or have trouble downloading files. Changing the publication from full color to black and white and using a less expensive paper further reduced printing costs of the limited quantities.

The annual report is one of the first printed publications that will be distributed electronically. Not only does this measure save money, but it also makes documents more accessible and is environmentally responsible.

“We realize that it will take time for our residents to get used to this change but we believe the cost saving benefits will be well worth the adjustment,” says Melinda Berry-Dreisbach, public information specialist for Fayette County Schools. “ I highly suggest that residents sign up for our RSS feed so that they know exactly when new publications and news items are added to our website. The feed eliminates the need to constantly check the site for new information.”

The RSS feed is free. Instructions on how to sign up for it are on the website, www.fcboe.org.

Anyone interested in receiving a printed copy of the 2007-2008 Annual Report can call 770-460-3535 to have one mailed or pick up one from the Fayette County Board of Education office located at 210 Stonewall Avenue in Fayetteville from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

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Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Offshoot Productions Offers a Free Performance in Tyrone on October 16

Offshoot Productions’ Gallery Players improvisation troupe, which is quickly gaining a loyal following, will perform at Tyrone’s Boxcar Café at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 16. This lively performance is entirely free of charge, as it is part of the Theatre Communications Group's national audience-development program, Free Night of Theatre.

Although there is no ticket cost, reservations are required and seating is limited. To reserve up to two tickets, visit Offshoot’s web site, www.offshoot.org. Scroll down for a link to Free Night of Theatre. Once you are on the Free Night web site, click “Find a Show.”

The Boxcar Café, where the theatre company has performed previously to full houses, is located at 865 Senoia Road, Tyrone, GA 30290. Beverages and desserts will be available for purchase.

The actors in Offshoot Productions’ Gallery Players—Elizabeth Clausen, Andy Fleming, Kristi Israel, Betty Mitchell, Paige Steadman and Joey Waldrop—bring a wide range of performing experience to the seemingly effortless improvisation they create for delighted audiences. Despite their different ages and backgrounds, they show an obvious mutual respect and delight in one another’s characters and antics. The director, Susan M. Steadman, Ph.D. has previously helmed an improv troupe in Michigan and has taught improvisation skills in workshops, classes, theatre festivals and conferences.

Each show is always different from preceding ones, depending upon audience input and the selection of scene formats from among dozens in the group’s repertoire. Examples? Well, how about a scene in which each line has to begin with the subsequent letter of the alphabet? (And the audience gets to blow the whistle—literally—when an actor slips up.) Or a dating game in which the audience assigns different characters (real or fictional, from Cleopatra to Orphan Annie) to the women competing for a guy? Like variety? Watch the actors turn an everyday scene into a Shakespearean tragedy, science fiction, situation comedy and more.

For additional information on the Gallery Players, contact Offshoot Productions at (770) 631-2362 or offshootp@aol.com. For general information on the Free Night program, go to http://www.freenightoftheater.net/. To reach Tyrone’s Boxcar Café, call (770) 486-8931.

Offshoot Productions is the longest running professional theatre on the Southside.
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Fayetteville DAR Speaks to Inman Elementary about Constitution


James Waldrop Regent Betty Harrah pledges her support to U.S. Constitution with Inman Elementary School Principal Louis Robinson.

Over 200 4th and 5th grade students of Inman Elementary School in Fayetteville recently learned about the U.S. Constitution in a presentation by the James Waldrop Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution. After the presentation, the students added their signatures pledging their support of the Constitution to the over 1000 pledges already gathered by the chapter in visits to Fayette County Elementary Schools in September . The U.S. Constitution, the world's oldest document of its kind still in existence, just celebrated 221 years of its framing.

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Fayette County School System and Local Law Enforcement Offer Community Awareness Seminar

The Fayette County School System, local law enforcement agencies and District Attorney Scott Ballard have collaborated again this year to offer another series of Community Awareness Seminars at each of the county’s five high schools in October.

The free seminars offer participants an opportunity to learn more about safety and legal issues affecting Fayette’s students. Seminar topics will be lead by local law enforcement representatives with knowledge and experience in the areas.

Discussion topics include bullying and cyber-bullying presented by the Peachtree City Police Department, statutory rape presented by the City of Fayetteville Police Department and alcohol and drug awareness presented by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department.

The seminars are from 7-8:30 p.m. and will be held on the following dates at these locations:

October 6, Starr’s Mill High

October 7, Sandy Creek High

October 9, Whitewater High

October 13, McIntosh High

October 21, Fayette County High

A question and answer session with the seminar panel will follow the presentations. Parents with students of all ages are welcome to attend any seminar location that is most convenient. No preregistration is required.

The purpose of the event is to help parents become better informed about serious issues affecting youth in Fayette County.

This marks the second time that local law enforcement personnel have partnered with the school system to offer Community Awareness Seminars. The first set of seminars were held in February and March and focused on gang awareness, Internet safety and interaction with law enforcement.

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Riders Needed for October 11th Joseph Sams School Motorcycle Poker Run

Motorcycle enthusiasts and local business commit to raising funds for The Joseph Sams School

The Joseph Sams School (www.josephsamsschool.org), a private, not-for-profit, special needs school in Fayetteville, Georgia, has created a new event to help raise funds and awareness for their school; Ridin’ for a Reason, 2008 Joseph Sams School Poker Run.

Ridin’ for a Reason will be on Saturday, October 11th and will offer a great ride and beautiful fall scenery to its participants, plus an outstanding cause. Starting at 10:30 am at Big Daddy’s Cycle World in South Fayetteville, and making stops at Redneck Gourmet in Senoia, Great South Harley Davidson in South Newnan, Big Red Oak Plantation in Gay, the ride will end at Wings & Things in Fayetteville with the final card draw, 50/50 drawing, lunch, raffles, an auction and a live band.

With the participation of community businesses and corporate sponsorships, those involved are confident that this ride will help raise much needed funding for the school’s programs and services.

For more information regarding sponsorship or ride registration, please contact Ashley Sams at 770-461-5894, or visit www.josephsamsschool.org.
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