Ryan Lewis had his first open heart surgery at five days old and had his second at four months old. He had a congenital heart defect that basically gave him half a heart. When he was just over three and a half years old, he had a heart transplant. Today, he is a happy and healthy pre-K student, wrestling with his brothers and on Saturday he will be this year’s “Face of the 2009 Children’s Christmas Parade in Atlanta, on a float with Atlanta Braves pitcher Tim Hudson (also a Fayette County resident) and his family.

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Dixie Wing, Honor Flight Fayette and local veterans organizations will join forces on Monday, Dec. 7, to host Peachtree City’s second observance of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. The program will be held at the Historical Airpower Facility, Falcon Field from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Congressman and Mrs. Lynn Westmorland, Senator Ronnie Chance, and Senator Mitch Seabaugh as well as Fayette County’s four state representatives, three Fayette County mayors and other community leaders are joining together to support Christian City’s ministry to abandoned and abused children this Christmas by hosting the third annual “Chair-ity” fundraiser. This unique and elegant event will be held at the Hollingsworth House on Stonewall Avenue in downtown Fayetteville. All proceeds will help the children who live in the cottages at Christian City to have a wonderful holiday season and will help buffer the many other operational costs The Children’s Village faces this winter.

BJ Myers of Peachtree City has been selected to perform at the 83rd Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Myers, 15, is a student at Woodward Academy and has been dancing since the age of three. His love of dancing led him to learn about acting and singing and soon he was finding himself in productions in the Atlanta area, including Atlanta Opera’s “Aida,” as well as the original cast of “The Color Purple” at The Alliance Theater.

Students at North Fayette Elementary are helping one of their classmates fight against cancer as they raise money for research and education one penny at a time.

Throughout October, students donated their pennies and other spare change to the Pennies for Patients campaign benefitting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The school decided to set an ambitious fundraising goal of $1,000 but surpassed it by collecting a total of $1,268.87.

In recognition of this outstanding accomplishment, an Eagle Scout Court of Honor was convened on Oct. 11,at the Calvin Center in Hampton, Ga.

Honoring our veterans is an ongoing patriotic project of the Frankie Lyle Chapter of the UDC. Last year’s Veterans Christmas Tree project was very successful as many veterans were honored by loved ones who purchased an ornament in their name. For $10.00 per ornament, your veteran’s name and branch of service will be hand written on an ornament and each veteran will be prayed for as his or her name is written.

Four women, all friends at the Fayetteville First United Methodist Church, decided to take advantage of the World’s Longest Yard Sale extending through several southern states.

Who couldn’t use a free Papa John’s pizza or Firestone Complete Auto Care oil change, no purchase necessary?

Miquela Rivers won high awards at the November7, 2009 Region 5AAAA One Act Play Competition .  Ten schools participated in the competition.  Out of the ten schools that competed, Fayette County High School (FCHS) received 2nd Place (runner up) for their performance of A Woman Called Truth .  Furthermore, out of all the performances, Miquela Rivers received the Best Actress Award for her role as Sojourner Truth in A Woman Called Truth!

Cancer Survivors who attended the kick off for the 2010 Relay For Life of Fayette County got to celebrate their next birthday early.  Each cancer survivor wrote their name on a candle that was used to decorate a giant faux birthday cake.  A rousing round of “Happy Birthday” was sung by those in attendance and everyone celebrated the accomplishment of surviving cancer and the joy have being around to celebrate another birthday. 

The well-known Wreaths Across America program is coming to Fayette County this year.  Many Americans have seen the photographs of the Christmas wreaths adorning the headstones of thousands of veterans buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC, honoring their service and sacrifice during the holidays.  Every wreath is paid for from donations of private citizens and corporations.  Every wreath is placed on a grave by willing volunteers. 

The Sandy Creek High Air Force Junior ROTC drill team placed in the top three at the Mundy’s Mill Invitational Classic Drill Meet.

This year, one closet in Fayette County has been filled up before the holiday season even starts. Thanks to the recent clothing drive organized by the Young Professionals of Fayette County (YP Fayette), Fayette Youth Protection Home’s free clothing store, called Gracie’s Closet, has been stocked up with new and gently used clothing items for them to distribute free of cost to foster children in Fayette County and surrounding areas. Beginning back in August as one of YP Fayette’s ongoing charitable projects, their members have collected over 2,500 clothing items to give back to the community through Gracie’s Closet.

Darryl Lenz, a Peachtree City resident, has been a flight attendant with American Airlines for 25 years. She and her family fly a lot and anyone who travels frequently looks for things to make getting through the airport and on to a plane easier. When Lenz’s son, Dawson, was two, she had him straddle the luggage from time to time while she pulled it. That one action gave her the idea attaching a chair to the rollaboard luggage. Her husband, Randy, asked if she was sure no one had thought of that before. She looked into it, realized that it had yet to be invented and, after eight months of talking about it, bought some children’s lawn chairs and built their first prototype.

On Thursday afternoon Coweta-Fayette EMC employees went to Crabapple Lane Elementary School to surprise 5th Grade teacher Pat Costa. Mrs. Costa was caught by surprise as the EMC employees walked into her room to tell her she was the winner of the $1500 Bright Idea Grant. The money from the grant will be used to purchase microscopes to be used in the classroom. Last year Mrs. Costa was voted on by her peer teachers for Teacher of the Year. One of the reasons Mrs. Costa received that honor was because of her hands-on and enthusiastic approach to teaching Science. Mrs. Costa is a teacher that engages every student in learning and the microscopes will be a welcome addition to the Science Lab. Many students will benefit from the generosity of Coweta-Fayette EMC.

Encore! Fayette Senior Leadership Program is currently recruiting older adults, retired or semi-retired for its second class scheduled to begin in January 2010.

A total of eight of Fayette’s elementary and middle schools have been named Title 1 Distinguished Schools by the Georgia Department of Education.

This year, one closet in Fayette County has been filled up before the holiday season even starts. Thanks to the recent clothing drive organized by the Young Professionals of Fayette County (YP Fayette), Fayette Youth Protection Home’s free clothing store, called Gracie’s Closet, has been stocked up with new and gently used clothing items for them to distribute free of cost to foster children in Fayette County and surrounding areas. Beginning back in August as one of YP Fayette’s ongoing charitable projects, their members have collected over 2,500 clothing items to give back to the community through Gracie’s Closet.

November 10th through November 15th, The Dogwood Gallery,  in Tyrone, GA, is hosting a preview of the intricate and unique chairs that will be sold at the upcoming November 30th  Hollingsworth House Chair-ity Event in Fayetteville. The Chair-ity event  will benefit the abandoned and abused children who live at the Children’s Village at Christian City.  Participating artists include: Vicki Turner, Patsy Gullet, Debbie Beaureguard, Phyllis Bennett, Greg Blair, Nora Blair, Cressida Chance, Carla Cook, Kim Daniel, Fiona Dennis, Yvonne Ford, Peggi Groff, Kim Guthrie, Kristin Hauch, Owen Jones, Helena Marette, Janet McGregor Dunn, Gloria Perkins, Donna Rosser, Pat Sams, and Jim Whitlock. The 3rd annual Hollingsworth House Chair-ity event is hosted by community leaders including Congressman Lynn Westmoreland and his wife Joan, Senator Ronnie Chance and Cressida, State Representatives John Yates, Matt Ramsey, Virgil Fludd and their wives, Mayors, Ken Steele, Harold Logsdon, and Gary Laggis and their wives and many others.   

Retired Army Colonel Ben Malcom, author of “White Tigers – My Secret War in North Korea,” will be guest speaker at the Peachtree City Veterans Day event on Saturday, Nov. 7th, 10 a.m. at the new Falcon Field Veterans Memorial.

On Sunday October 11th, Ben Hester, Brandon Lee and Blake Jaurigue, members of the Whitewater H.S. varsity lacrosse team and the Georgia Copperheads club team visited with Ben Goss at the Shepherd Spinal Center in Atlanta. Ben Goss was a passenger in a car in Massachusetts that was involved in a wreck, three other passengers walked away with minor injuries, unfortunately for Ben he took the brunt of the accident with a C-7 spinal cord injury. These players collected a bag of items from their lacrosse that included a hoodie, sweat pants, t-shirts, equipment bag and other items as Ben was made an honorary member of the Whitewater lacrosse team. The players all agreed that this humbling experience makes wins and losses in a different perspective.

The cutest chick in Fayette County is in Dana Wrenn’s pre-K classroom at Brooks Elementary.

Wrenn’s 20 students watched in amazement on October 9 as a baby chicken broke through its eggshell and hatched after two days of pecking.

The Fayette County High Marching Tigers made their own history by placing fifth overall in the Bands of America Regional Championship, the highest placement the band has ever received at this competition.

Joseph Sams School establishes Classroom Readiness/Tutoring Clinic
 
October 15 – The Joseph Sams School (JSS) today announced the opening of a Classroom Readiness/Tutorial Clinic in Fayetteville, Georgia to serve the needs of children in the greater Atlanta area with diagnosed intellectual, physical and developmental disabilities.

October 26, 2009 - The Young Professional of Fayette County (YP Fayette) will hold a Fall Festival on November 7, 2009 from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Fruition Farms in Palmetto.

The Fall Festival is open to all YP Fayette members and those interested in becoming a member. The festival will feature a horseshoe tournament and sack race competition. Food will be provided from Shane’s Rib Shack and guests are invited to bring their own drinks.

“We are excited about our first Fall Festival,” said Kristen Rosati president of YP Fayette. “It gives people an opportunity to learn more about the Young Professionals of Fayette County and what we offer to the community.”

Attendees are asked to RSVP by Friday, October 30 to ypfayette1@gmail.com or call 404-449-4969 for more information. The cost is $10.00 per person and a portion of the proceeds will go to send children from Fayette Youth Protections Homes to a day of equestrian therapy at Flying Change.

Flying Change is an equine assisted growth & development program in which horses are included as partners in emotional growth and learning.

Fayette Youth Protection Homes is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to providing a safe, nurturing environment and supportive services to children and youth who have been the victims of abuse, neglect or other tragic family circumstance.

Young Professionals of Fayette County is a non-profit, all volunteer program dedicated to connecting young professionals who live, work or have an interest in Fayette County. YP Fayette focuses on networking opportunities, promoting community involvement and providing leadership development for men and women between the ages of 21 and 39.

For more information about YP Fayette, please visit www.ypfayette.com

Our Lady of Victory Catholic School is pleased to welcome Claudia Munoz on staff this year! Claudia Munoz is the new Spanish teacher. Claudia comes to Our Lady of Victory with over 20 years of teaching experience.  Claudia’s background and experience is unique and we are delighted to have such a rich cultural addition to our school community.

Georgia Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate, Karen Handel was a guest speaker at a recent Rotary Club of Peachtree City luncheon.  Karen Handel was elected in November 2006 and sworn in to office on January 8, 2007 as Georgia's first Republican Secretary of State. This important constitutional office oversees elections, corporations, securities, and professional licensing boards, and also controls the state archives and the Capitol museum. Using her vast experience in government, business, and community involvement, Secretary of State Handel brings a straight-forward, hard-working attitude to state government and isn't afraid to challenge the status quo.

On Oct. 8, Lainie Beth Long was selected to attend Georgia Tech’s Women in Engineering program. Long was allowed to visit the different Engineering departments at Geogia Tech. The program is sponsored by Eaton, John Deere and Shell Oil Company. Long attended Civil and Environmental Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. She later attended a luncheon with a panel of professional women engineers. The afternoon was spent in sessions of Material Science and Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering and Biomedical Engineering. Long is a junior at Landmark Christian School. She s pictured with the directors of Women In Engineering. Photo/Special.

Omega Lamont has long been interested in antiques and old paintings. And after scrutinizing a painting she found at an antique shop in Brooks in 2005, Lamont has come to believe the painting of Geronimo is an authentic Frederic Remington.

“I knew it was by a good artist. It was very captivating,” Lamont said of the painting that was part of an estate sale that had come from California. “The shop had good art that was being snatched up fast.”