New and aspiring entrepreneurs on the south side have an opportunity in January to learn from the small-business experts in a series of two free programs presented by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) Georgia District Office. The seminars will be held in the community meeting room at the Fayette County Public Library in downtown Fayetteville on January 15 and 29. There is no cost to attend, but pre-registration is required for each seminar.

Offshoot Productions' comic improvisation troupe, the Gallery Players, will entertain audiences at the Fayette Art Center and Gallery on Friday, Feb. 1, at 7 p.m., in a fund raiser to benefit both nonprofit organizations. Dessert and beverage are included in the admission cost, which is $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Seating is very limited, providing an intimate atmosphere in which the audience may interact with the performers. However, it also means that early reservations are advisable.

The new year will get started right beginning Wednesday when a new production of the beloved musical, “Annie,” takes stage at the Fabulous Fox Theatre for a five day run.

Before the holidays I wrote out my top 10 list, so now I will put out my bottom 10 of 2007. These are the worst movies I saw this year and some of them could be among the worst I’ve seen in a long time. A few of these came out towards the end of 2006 but I rented them from Netflix during 2007, so I’m counting them.

The Fayette Daybreak Rotary Club has the solution for your Christmas tree disposal dilemma. For the fourth year in a row, the Fayette Daybreak Rotary Club has organized a free tree chipping event on January 5, from 10:00am until 2:00pm at the Fayetteville Home Depot on Pavilion Parkway. Just bring your tree down during the event and White-Meadows Tree Service will toss the tree into their massive chipper for you.

The Harding University Chorus of Searcy, AR, under the direction of Dr. Cliff Ganus, will present a program at 7:30pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 at Sandy Creek High School in Patriot Hall. The public is invited to this free concert. The A Cappella Choir from GAC (Greater Atlanta Christian) in Norcross, GA will also perform.

The Fayette Daybreak Rotary Club has the solution for your Christmas tree disposal dilemma.

For the fourth year in a row, the Fayette Daybreak Rotary Club has organized a free tree chipping event on January 5, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Fayetteville Home Depot on Pavilion Parkway. Just bring your tree down during the event and White-Meadows Tree Service will toss the tree into their massive chipper for you.

1. “Knocked Up”: Hilarious. That’s the word that comes to mind when I think of this surprise summer blockbuster. If “The 40 Year Old Virgin” didn’t do it, “Knocked Up” has officially taken Judd Apatow and friends into the next stratosphere of comedic genius. Seth Rogen nails his role as the stoner slacker who unintentionally impregnates his one night stand Katherine Heigl. Funny and yet heartfelt, this film kept me in stitches with its witty script and white hot performances, which is why “Knocked Up” was my favorite film of 2007.

Note: I am writing this article on Friday, Dec. 14 - before I have been able to screen “Sweeney Todd,” “Juno,” and “Atonement” among others. I plan on seeing those films very soon and may have a different opinion of best movies of 2007 by the time Oscars roll around. Anyhoo, here’s the best of what I saw.

If you have ever seen a biopic about a musician or a band, you have undoubtedly noticed the similarities they share. Typically, the artist comes from a poor background and there was a tragedy in their past. Music is their ticket out though and after a meteoric rise and a terrible fall the musician rights their ship and becomes a legend.

With Christmas just around the corner, this weekend will be filled with last minute shopping, baking, gift wrapping and tree trimming. The long list of to-dos can often add stress to an already busy season and sometimes even take a bit of the Christmas cheer out of your system.

This weekend why not take a little time out to relax with friends and family while getting into the Christmas spirit with one of the classic Christmas film favorites your local rental store (or your own movie library) has to offer? Some of these classics will, of course, be airing on television over the next few days, so if you plan accordingly, you can enjoy them free of charge. Now, in no particular order, here are 12 holiday films to rent this Christmas:

I saw this film at a recent limited-release screening, and my expectations were high. The previews were hilarious and the film features “Superbad” star Michael Cera and a scathingly sarcastic Ellen Page as the title character.

Nothing says Christmas movie like “Man, surviving all alone in plague-stricken, zombie/vampire filled Manhattan.” Ahhh, you can almost smell the fresh pine and the eggnog.

The Sharpsburg Country-Western Dance Show team performed at the Warm Springs celebration "The Christmas Candlelight Tour." The team is formed by students of Rachel Ferguson's classes held on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.

Jazzy family musical plays this weekend

Fayette Coweta Family Theatre, Inc. is putting the final touches on their family friendly musical “Disney's Aristocats, Kids,” which premiers this weekend.

This groovy musical masterpiece from Disney tells the story of Duchess (Emily Sipe) and her three kittens, Marie (Rebecca Wanderman), Berlioz (Ricky Macke) and Toulouse (Justin Duhon) as they are tossed out of their loving home by greedy butler Edgar (Robert Gould). They are made to find their way back into Madam's (Anna Marie Smith) loving arms by braving the streets of Paris.

“Enchanted” has been at or near the top of the box office since its release and it deserves to be in what can only be described as a weak holiday movie season. There are some great films out there for the adults, but choices for children and families are limited. Sorry, kids, no Harry Potter or Narnia this Christmas. “Enchanted” is a winner, though, certainly worthy of being included in the Disney pantheon of entertaining family films. A lot of credit is due to an amazing performance from Amy Adams.

Lyra, played by Dakota Blue Richards, is an orphan girl who never does what she is told. She lives in a place called Jordan College with a bunch of scholars. Did I mention that in this universe everyone has a daemon (animal) who represents his or her soul?

With 43,000 lights, including 16,000 lights making up an 11 foot tall “mega tree,” Art Carpenter’s Christmas light show is a wonder to behold. Synched with both classic and modern Christmas tunes, the show runs for about 15 minutes and will delight audiences young and old.

Holiday performances kick off this weekend

With only two and a half weeks before Christmas arrives and Hanukkah now in progress, the holiday season is in full swing. Parking lots are full, shopping bags are overflowing and holiday parties abound.

Shopping, decorating, family gatherings, party giving and party going fill our days and evenings from this week until the beginning of January. These are the things that pull us into the holiday spirit, but they can also deplete our energy and test our ability to maintain the holiday cheer.

“The Waltons” was based on stories by Earl Hamner Jr. and this holiday season, Southside Theatre Guild in Fairburn will present an adaptation of his story, “The Homecoming.”

The Coen Brothers make great movies, and “No Country for Old Men,” their adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s best-seller, continues that trend. Only, it doesn’t feel like a Coen Brothers movie. “Fargo,” which was a crime-thriller in a way, also had a bit of a wacky sense of humor, as did “Raising Arizona” and “The Big Lebowski.”

On Saturday, Nov. 10, amid the lights and excitement at the Coweta County Centre for Visual and Performing Arts, Cassie McDonald was crowned Miss Northgate 2007. Others recognized at the competition were first runner up Amanda Bennett, second runner up Edy Robinson, senior princess Katie Douglas, junior princess Amber Poindexter, sophomore princess Amanda Mills, freshman princess Jayde Bennett and Miss Photogenic Maci McRae.

The Peachtree City Fire Department’s annual “Santa Run” will continue this weekend.

Santa, atop his trusty fire engine, will visit Peachtree City neighborhoods during the weekends of Dec. 8 and 9 and Dec. 15 and 16.

The Southern Crescent Chorale’s 2007-2008 concert series marks their sixth season and promises to deliver a variety of performances for the enrichment of the Southern Crescent community. Holding an important place in our vibrant arts community, the chorale is conducted by renowned choral director Janice Folsom. Concerts are planned at venues throughout the region and will include dynamic performances of a major choral work, along with other classical works and Broadway favorites. With national-caliber voices and a challenging selection of material, the Southern Crescent Chorale has established a reputation and following that continues to grow with every performance.

Weekend events get communities in the spirit

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year...” or so the song goes. This weekend, local communities will greet the Christmas season with parades, concerts and tree lightings to help boost the holiday season up another notch.

When I walked in to see “Lars and the Real Girl,” I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. I had heard chatter about it being surprisingly sweet, but my real reason for going to see it was lead actor Ryan Gosling, who portrays Lars Lindstrom.

Many faithful readers of my movie reviews know that I love horror movies. I see a lot of them and most of them are simply passable. Earlier this year, after seeing “Hostel Part II,” I bemoaned the fact that torture movies had taken over the genre and had really (pardon the pun) killed it. It seemed like there were very few original ideas and that horror movies were only concerned with showing horrible image upon horrible image.

Giselle (Amy Adams) is an animated girl who is searching for the perfect Prince Charming. Prince Edward, played by James Marsden, is looking for the perfect girl. When the two meet, it’s love at first sight, so they decide to get married. Sound like this is similar to every other fairy tale? Wrong.

Join Toys for Tots and Santa in collecting toys for children who are less fortunate.

The Gaddy family, known for their dazzling Christmas light display each holiday season, will host a Toys for Tots Drive at their home, 898 Sandy Creek Road, Fayetteville.

The Olive Branch, a ladies group of Sharpsburg Baptist Church, is sponsoring an Old Fashioned Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, Dec. 1 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Items for sale will include homemade jams, jellies, and baked goods; crafts; a White Elephant table and more. Gift wrapping will also be available and attendees should plan to enjoy cider and cookies at the hospitality table.