Wednesday, May 9, 2001
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Wednesday, May 9, 2001 |
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Kiwanis to sponsor county-wide July 4 bash By DAVE
HAMRICK
For the first time in recent years, there will be a county-wide Fourth of July celebration this year. The Kiwanis Club of Fayette County has approved a community gathering at its new fairgrounds off Ga. Highway 85 south as a service project. "The whole community is invited," said A.G. VanLandingham, chairman of the celebration committee. "It's going to be an old-time picnic with all the old-time games." Committee members have timed the day's activities from noon to about 6 or 7 p.m. so as not to compete with Peachtree City's annual parade in the morning or the city's fireworks display at dusk. Kiwanians are working with the local community to raise about $10,000 to $12,000 to help cover the expenses of the project so that the proceeds from food sales can go to three local charities. The club will sell hot dogs and burgers, soft drinks and cold watermelon, in hopes that the remainder of expenses will be covered by the soft drink and watermelon sales and the hot dog and burger proceeds can go to charity. Benefiting will be the Joseph Sams School, the Youth Protection Homes and the Fayette Service Center, a program for learning-impaired adults. "We're just trying to give something back to the community, to bring the community together on the Fourth of July," said VanLandingham. "In the old days, most little towns had a picnic or a get-together, and we want to bring some of that feeling back," he added. "This is a good way for folks to get together and enjoy each other rather than going somewhere else," he said. There will be entertainment all afternoon, along with games and activities. Recreation leaders in Tyrone, who put on a huge founders' day celebration each year, have agreed to help with games, VanLandingham said. Other Kiwanis clubs also are being invited to participate, he added. Club members have been discussing the idea for about two years, said VanLandingham, and had thought about starting the celebration last year, but decided to wait because the fairgrounds facilities weren't quite finished. Now the facility is complete with air-conditioned buildings, and plans are to conduct the July 4 bash every year. "I would love to see it, in the passing of time, grow to bring larger and larger crowds," said VanLandingham. More details on the entertainment and activities will come later.
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