Aviation Week, the largest multimedia information and services provider to the global aviation, aerospace and defense industries, recognized exceptional strategy, heroism and leadership at the 51st Annual Laureates Awards on March 4 in Washington, D.C. Hosted by Aviation Week, in conjunction with Platinum Partner Breitling and Emerald Partners Booz Allen Hamilton and Northrop Grumman, the Laureates Awards is the industry’s premier event, acknowledging the innovation, vision and exploration of current and future leaders in aviation, aerospace and defense, including U.S. Coast Guard Academy 1/C Joel Kurucar of Fayetteville, Ga.

Teen models hit runway to change fashion culture one outfit at a time

On Sunday, April 20, the Pure Fashion Show, an annual faith-based event, will hit the runways again in style, as it has in Atlanta for the past nine years. This year’s event will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center. With an emphasis on modesty – mirroring the ‘Modesty Movement’ that says girls can wear cute clothes and still maintain their dignity – Pure Fashion includes more than 60 teen models and stresses that real models are role models who know who they are and know that they can ‘change the culture one outfit at a time!’

You know the story – Simba is a young lion cub who was just born to the joy of his parents, Mufasa and Sarabi. He is very energized, and he has his lioness friend, Nala, to tag along for the ride.

McIntosh High School’s drama and music students will bring the Peanuts gang to life in their production of the musical “You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” The play will be staged at 7:30 p.m. on April 17, 18 and 19 at the school’s auditorium, 201 Walt Banks Road, Peachtree City.

James Ellroy has penned some great works about cops, crime and corruption in Los Angeles. “L.A. Confidential” was an Oscar contender and “The Black Dahlia” desperately wanted to be. The latest film with his name on it, “Street Kings,” ditches the 1950s and moves the story to modern Los Angeles where things are a whole lot grittier and way more dangerous.

In 1996 a group of individuals formed Georgia Heartland Humane Society (GHHS) to address the abuse and abandonment of companion animals in Coweta and Fayette counties. They based their mission on the belief that all life is sacred and that companion animals have a right to a pain free and peaceful existence. This nonprofit agency, comprised entirely of volunteers, has no permanent structure to support. Instead rescued animals are placed in foster homes until they are adopted.

This year, Fayette County will celebrate Earth Day on Saturday, April 12, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This inaugural event will include several community clean-up and beautification projects followed by a fun-filled ‘green themed’ fair at Fayetteville’s Main Street and Heritage Park.

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Nim (Abigail Breslin from “Little Miss Sunshine” which I have never seen) is a girl who lives on an uncharted island with her dad, a marine biologist named Jack (Gerald Butler). Nim thinks she is living the perfect life. She has animal friends, a dad who loves her, and the Alex Rover book series. She loves the Alex Rover stories because of his taste for action and adventure.

The highly successful and award-winning Broadway and upcoming touring productions of “Mary Poppins” will be holding open casting calls in Atlanta for children who can sing, dance, and act on Sunday, Apr. 13.

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Scott Smith’s horror novel “The Ruins” was praised by Stephen King as the “best horror novel of the new century.” As a huge fan of King’s let me tell you that is not hyperbole. I read “The Ruins” shortly after it was released while on vacation (thankfully not in Mexico) and finished it early one morning in the kitchen while everyone else was still asleep. The book gnawed at me. It was disturbing and bleak, as well as terrifying and unsettling. “The Ruins” is one of the best horror novels I have ever read.

Preparations for Fayette County's Relay For Life is in full swing.

The American Cancer Society's annual fundraiser will be held at 7 p.m. May 2 at the Kiwanis Fairgrounds in Fayetteville.

One of spring time’s premier events is set to occur April 26. It is the Race for Riley fundraiser to benefit The Joseph Sams School in Fayetteville. Spearheaded by Waynette and Rodney Peek, the annual event at Georgia Baptist Children’s Home in Palmetto also raises awareness of Mitochondrial disease.

Fayette County’s Earth Day event has over 40 exhibitors that will meet April 12, at Fayetteville's Main Street and Heritage Park. The 'green' theme fair runs from 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Visit over 50 yard sales in one location at the 7th Annual Spring Yard Sale on Saturday, April 5th from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Sponsored by the Fayette County Parks and Recreation Department, this community-wide yard sale will be held at the Activities House parking lot at 980 Redwine Road in Fayetteville. The Fayette County Parks and Recreation Department holds community yard sales bi-annually (Spring and Fall). All vendors are local residents from Fayette and surrounding counties. Past sales have attracted bargain-hunters from Norcross to Macon, Locust Grove to Newnan, and everywhere in between. Free admission and parking for all bargain hunters!

School will be out before we know it, and many teenagers will soon be looking for summer jobs. The Fayette County Public Library is hosting a Teen Job Fair on Saturday, April 5, from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. Offered with the support of the Friends of the Fayette County Public Library, the job fair is open to everyone between the ages of 15 and 18, and admission is free.

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Somewhere during the opening credits, right around the time you see the name David Zucker as (executive) producer, you realize that this spoof film probably won’t be like the last couple of spoof films to hit theaters. Zucker was one of the brains behind “Airplane” and “The Naked Gun” and those movies are both still watchable and funny. “Superhero Movie” was written and directed by Craig Mazin, who also wrote “Scary Movie 3” and “Scary Movie 4,” best known for washing the bad taste of “Scary Movie 2” out of everyone’s mouth.

Fayette Coweta Family Theatre, Inc. will hold open auditions for Disney's spectacular Teen Musical for ages 10 through adults on Saturday, April 19. All principle roles are available and will be cast from the open audition. Callbacks are scheduled for Sunday, April 20 from 2 to 5 for all roles. Performers from ages 10 to 12 years will be auditioning for ensemble roles with those 13 to adults auditioning for leads, supporting and ensemble roles. Auditions will consist of a taught song from the show, a taught dance combination and cold readings from the script.

On Saturday, April 26 the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Dixie Wing will host “Keep ‘em Flying,” a World War II-theme hangar dance, complete with big-band performances, swing dance demonstrations, 1940’s costumes and vintage vehicles. The festivities will be held at the Historical Airpower Facility, Falcon Field Peachtree City and will begin with free swing dance lessons by Rachel Ferguson dance classes at 6 p.m.

On March 29 at 7:30 p.m., world-renowned pianist Charles Wadsworth will host a spectacular concert celebrating the much-anticipated completion of the Charles Wadsworth Auditorium Restoration Project.

Beginning on March 29, the Senoia Writer’s Group will offer a bimonthly writing critique workshop for adults at 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

McDonald’s Chief Happiness Officer, Ronald McDonald, will appear at the grand opening celebration of the new McDonald’s in Senoia, 2907 Ga. Highway 85, this Saturday.

The City of Newnan Fire Department will be participating in Ashley Park’s Spring Celebration on March 29. Some of Newnan’s Firefighters will be out at Ashley Park showing off a city fire truck and handing out burn awareness materials to citizens.

This week 260 students at Whitewater High School are diligently preparing for what has become a Whitewater tradition – the annual chorus production of “Whitewater Spectacular.” This year, the fifth such production, will encompass the theme, “Dance to the Music: A Tribute to Music of Our Past.”

Whitewater High School opened in 2003 at the Lafayette Education Center with only 400 freshman students. The choral department, under the direction of Kelly Butler, included 90 of the students.

The Chicken-Man made a rare appearance to Fayette County last weekend to help raise money for the upcoming 2008 Relay For Life of Fayette County. The Chicken Man, retired Delta Air Lines scheduler Mike Culver, used his unusual wit, comedic lip-sinking and facial contortions to entertain patrons at the American Cancer Society fund-raiser.

The Southern Crescent Chorale’s 2007-2008 season will continue this Sunday on March 30 at 3 p.m. at Spivey Hall, when the chorale will perform a concert entitled Norman Luboff’s Choral Legacy.

After the resounding success of their March 7 performance, Offshoot Productions’ Gallery Players return to the intimate setting of the Fayette Art Center and Gallery with a new show on Friday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m.

Kids, stop studying for your CRCTs and go see “CRT.”

James Porter (Martin Lawrence) is a Chicago Police Chief, father of two children and an over-protective parent to his daughter, Melanie (Raven-Symoné.) James has planned all his life that Melanie will go off to Northwestern University because of its short distance from home and its safeness level. Other members of the family include his gentle, patient wife Nancy, brilliant son Trey and Trey’s chess-playing Houdini pet pig named Albert (Einstein, that is.) James thinks the pig is always eyeballing him, but no one else sees it happen.

I don’t believe anybody at my middle school will see this movie, and I understand why. This movie is made for little children, hence the G rating. It was the first 20th Century Fox film that I didn’t appreciate very much, although it still has enough humor and good actors for a three star rating.

On Saturday, March 22, the Peachtree City Optimist Club, in conjunction with the Peachtree City Fire Department and Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, will host an Easter egg hunt at Shakerag Knoll near the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater in Peachtree City. The fire department will also be presenting an open house, to include vehicles (engine and ambulance for inspection) and equipment on static display.

The American Cancer Society of Fayette County and the Relay for Life organizing committee is searching for local cancer survivors who would like to participate in this year's Relay For Life event and Survivor/Caregiver Dinner.