Carousel of Dance Arts, located at 155 Bradford Square Suite E in Fayetteville, has announced a new program for kids fitness, “Stretch Out & Chill Out.” The program is designed to increase flexibility and to promote all-around health and well-being, and is for all ages and abilities.

Randy Weaver and Wayne Corley, local Allstate insurance agents, have been recognized by Allstate Insurance Company for high standards in customer satisfaction, customer retention and profitability. They are now among the top Allstate agents in the nation in auto, property and commercial insurance and financial service sales. Weaver’s agency is located at 604 Crosstown Rd. in Peachtree City and Corley’s agency is located at 103 West Park Dr., also in Peachtree City.

• Harbin named Certified Insurance Counselor

The designation of Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) has been conferred upon Michael B. Harbin of The Harbin Agency, Inc. in Fayetteville, Georgia, following his successful completion of a rigorous insurance education program sponsored by the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors. Harbin has demonstrated his professional competence through the successful completion of the five CIC institutes and comprehensive written examinations focusing on all major fields of insurance, insurance management, and agency operations. At the age of 21, Harbin is the youngest CIC in the state of Georgia and currently the second youngest CIC nationwide. He recently graduated from Atlanta Christian College in East Point, Ga. Prior to attending college, Harbin received his education at home. He is the son of Marty and Debbie Harbin of Tyrone, Ga. He received his Property and Casualty license at the age of 18 and his Life and Health license at the age of 19. He is currently engaged to be married to Caylor Bermudez of Peachtree City. They are planning a February 2009 wedding.

Members of the James Waldrop Chapter National Society of the American Revolution recently honored the late Commander Mary Jean Burch as its Women in History Award for 2008.

The various branches of the Burch family have been in Fayette County since the 1880s and have all excelled at whatever they chose to do.

This past June the residents of Iowa experienced some of the worst flooding in years. Many families experienced devastating losses including the warm clothing that is necessary for the bitter Iowa winters. Carol Anderson, a knitware designer in St. Ansgar, Iowa, has been working since the floods began to collect clothing and blankets to donate to the victims. When she put out a call to her fellow knitters and crocheters worldwide to help these people, Janet Kent, knitting instructor at Fayette Senior Services, and Nancy Crow, the crochet instructor, responded. And so did their fellow knitters and crocheters at the center.

• Students participate in summer music program
Two Peachtree City students, Drew Ford (viola) and Martine Van Voorthuysen (violine), participated in an elite summer chamber music program called Franklin Pond Chamber Music. Franklin Pond is a unique summer chamber music program for talented pre-college musicians.  These two young musicians spent six weeks in intense study, including one-on-one coaching with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra musicians, master classes with artists like ASO Music Director Robert Spano and performing throughout the community, as well as in a recital on Jekyll Island. Their experience culminated with a final concert in Atlanta on August 5.

At only two and half years of age, Adam Wingate has spent far too many hours of his life in hospital rooms. But despite his circumstances, he is a happy little boy who brings great joy to his family.

In December 2005, Rick and Mechelle Wingate welcomed the birth of their fourth child, Adam. About four hours after his birth, the doctor came in with some unexpected news: Adam had Downs Syndrome.

“He spent a little over a month in the hospital after birth until his blood counts were good,” said his father Rick, a resident of Fayette County since 1985.

Though the bigger stars in America’s number one comedy hit “Tropic Thunder” have received the most attention, one of the co-stars, Brandon T. Jackson, who plays Alpa Chino, is receiving a lot of praise for his performance. Jackson swung through Atlanta recently as part of a six-city promotional tour for the movie and spoke about his role.

A group of Fayette County volunteers is on board to do their part in combating a dreaded disease that has a dramatic impact on Georgia’s families. There are more than 199,000 people in Georgia diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, a disorder involving dementia and increased memory loss that primarily attacks the elderly.

Thanks to grants awarded from The United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta and the United States Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration, Fayette Senior Services, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, is able to continue its popular Voucher Transportation Program. The program is designed to benefit Fayette County residents age 60 and better as well as disabled adults age 18 to 59 who cannot drive through no fault of their own.

• Youngblood graduates from basic combat training

Army Pvt. Corey C. Youngblood has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises. He is the son of Linda Perkins of Tampa, Fla. and brother of Lisa Gwydon of Fayetteville, Ga.

By Jeanette Batiste
Special to The Citizen

In the late 1980s, Peace Corps laid the cornerstones for the start of a long-term personal commitment to improving the lives of poor people in Africa by inspiring two returned Peace Corp volunteers (RPCVs) to establish A Self-help Assistance Program (ASAP). Tom Arsenault and Elizabeth Bara, who now reside in Peachtree City, Ga., spent two life-changing years as Peace Corps teachers in Swaziland in the late 1980s. They met, were married and together decided to make a lifelong commitment to empowering people in Africa. Peace Corps enabled them to embark on this journey, and equipped them with the necessary tools to do so.

A local motorcycle club and a local restaurant are teaming up to help friends in need.

The BBMC and the Twilight Bar and Grill in Newnan are joining forces to have the first annual Friends for Life golf tournament, raffle and motorcycle ride to raise money for friends that are in need or for local charities.

The City of Newnan announces its fifth Newnan Citizen Academy, a free six-week course provided to city residents, business owners and property owners, over the age of 18, to educate and inform the citizens of Newnan about every aspect of city government in Newnan. The course will be an intensive, hands-on program on how city departments operate and how critical decisions are made that affect the quality of life in Newnan. 

"New Beginnings" by Community Welcome House is a unique shop that also has a used book store inside. The first Friday and Saturday of each month through October there is a sales area that offers great buys from five cents to $1.

Ndawi Eke of Fayetteville attended the 42nd annual Washington Youth Tour, an all-expense paid leadership experience sponsored by the electric membership corporations in Georgia, during her summer break. Selected by her local co-op, Coweta-Fayette EMC, she was among 104 high school students at the weeklong leadership event. As Georgia’s oldest leadership program for teens, the Washington Youth Tour is designed to teach students about U.S. history, government, and careers in public service.

Cory Bowles, a member of Boy Scout Troop 73, recently completed his Eagle Scout project.

Bowles designed and constructed recycling bins for Sara Harp Minter Elementary School, who will begin a water bottle recycling program for the 2008-2009 school year.

On Wednesday, June 25, the Piedmont Fayette Hospital Auxiliary collected and donated more than 130 skeins of yarn for baby caps. Local knitters and crocheters volunteer their skill and time to make the caps, which are given to newborns at the hospital.

The Girls Scouts of Service Unit 616 participated in a summer fun event called, "What's Cooking.” Forty Brownies and Juniors met at the North Fayette United Methodist Church to learn how to make confections such as fondue and candy bars. They also made ice cream, decorated cookies and learned about the food pyramid, how calcium is important for healthy bones, and about food pantries and food banks. The girls donated non-perishable foods for our local food pantry in Fayetteville. The Brownies and Juniors earned two badges in the all-day event. The Girl Scouts of Fayette County are gearing up for this year's program. Information to join the Girl Scouts is available at www.girlscoutsofpinevalley.com. Photo/Special.

Jackie Littleton and Rachel Delise, both of Peachtree City, were recently selected to participate in the Nationals’ 2008 Miss Pre-Teen Atlanta pageant competition that will take place next week. Both girls submitted an application and took part in an interview session that was conducted by Patty Neidert, this year’s Atlanta pageant coordinator.

Peace Corps volunteer Jeanette Batiste (Malawi ’03-’05) is looking for volunteers to help raise funds for ASAP (A Self-help Assistance Program) Africa’s Malawi program expansion by volunteering to pre-sell fresh roasted coffee from Africa during the month of August.

The Fayette County Humane Society has announced that it has received, from the Build-A-Bear Workshop, a grant in the amount of $1,500 to go toward their spay/neuter program for pets of low income families in this area.

Gallopade International recently launched a new, innovative website, www.electionsforkids.com, to help children learn about the U.S. election process and get them excited about this year’s historic presidential election. The site’s most engaging activity is the opportunity to vote weekly on a wide range of topics, from election-related facts, such as which animals are used as symbols for political parties, to everyday choices, such as your favorite ice cream flavor.

• Bunn graduated from basic combat training
Army Pvt. Jeremy L. Bunn has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission and received instruction and training exercises in drill and ceremonies, Army history, core values and traditions, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, rifle marksmanship, weapons use, map reading and land navigation, foot marches, armed and unarmed combat, and field maneuvers and tactics. Bunn is the son of Edward Bunn of Brooks, Ga.

Bargain shopping makes a difference

With the kids back in school and summer winding to a close, it’s a great time to celebrate. The Real Life Store in Tyrone will host a Customer Appreciation Day on Saturday, August 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Customer Appreciation Day will feature food, door prizes and fun, and area residents are encouraged to stop by to visit and shop.

Sean Aleksander Pike, having completed the requirements for and having been examined by an Eagle Scout Board, was found worthy of the rank of Eagle Scout. In honor of his achievement, an Eagle Scout Court of Honor was held on Sunday, July 13, at Sonrise Baptist Church in Newnan, Ga.

Fayette County native’s focus on children and families is created at on-location shoots, capturing the mood and emotions of the moment.

Toyota of Newnan is getting ready to give away $5,000.

To register for the cash prize simply stop by Toyota of Newnan, located at 2 Herring Road, Newnan Ga., anytime between now and August 31, 2008 and test drive any new or certified pre-owned vehicle. After the test drive register for your chance to win the grand prize.

University of Georgia undergraduates Carolyn Crist and Sean O'Rourke, both from Newnan, are among 33 students who received 2008 summer research fellowships from the Honors Program’s Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (CURO).

July birthdays were celebrated by Elizabeth Corey and Virginia Channell at the East Coweta Senior Center at the covered dish luncheon the first Wednesday of July. The East Coweta Senior Center is located on Howard Road in Senoia. Other activities are held on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. Photo/Special.