Ray and Louise Nelson outside the Acosti Car. Photo/Michael Boylan.

You never know what’s going to change the world.

Ray Nelson, a career musician who had dabbled in acting, had no idea that his love of music and his decision to care for foster children with his wife, Louise, would lead to forming a program that has received world-wide recognition that grows larger by the day. And yet, with chapters in 15 states, Canada and more chapters coming soon in England, Australia and Italy, Nelson’s idea, Guitars not Guns, has put guitars in the hands of foster kids and at-risk youth and has musicians and people wanting to reach out and help children come together.

Antoine J. Barnes has graduated from the Army ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) Leader's Training Course at Fort Knox, Ky.

The rank of Eagle Scout is the highest achievement a member can earn with Boy Scouts of America, and is earned by just three percent of all boys who enter scouting.

Second careerists and 26-year Peachtree City residents Susan and Dan Spradley are thrilled to be celebrating "Edible Arrangements" second anniversary July 31, 2009!  Their store is located in "Togwatee Village", across from the hospital, in Fayetteville, Georgia.

More than 200 people attended last year’s “Meet the Instructor Day” at Fayette Senior Services (FSS) for a chance to learn about the wide variety of classes and activities offered at its Life Enrichment Center and register for classes. The event was such as success that Fayette Senior Services is pleased to announce that it will host it again this year on Tuesday, August 18 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Georgia’s middle school students can now register for online, fall quarter, core academic and elective courses through the Georgia Virtual School (GAVS) division of the state Department of Education. Courses for enrichment, remediation, or acceleration are 9 weeks in length and begin Aug. 10 or 17 for the first quarter, and Oct.12 or 19 for the second quarter. Registration ends Aug. 12 for the first quarter, and Oct. 14 for the second quarter.

One Magnolia Lane's Christmas in July Sales Event continues throughout the month with large discounts on set items when you bring your four food items to donate to the Real Life Center's Food Pantry. Pictured are Diana Surratt, Chanel Ranes and Ellen Sturgill.

By Mike Raymer

In early July I was one of ten U.S. and Canadian educators to travel to Tokyo, Japan to participate in a Keizai Koho Center teacher fellowship tour. The goal of the tour, which was done in cooperation with the National Association of Japan-America Societies, was to learn first hand about contemporary Japanese society to enhance classroom teaching of global perspectives. While in Japan, I visited schools, businesses, cultural attractions and had an opportunity to spend a weekend in the home of a Japanese family. I was also lucky enough to meet someone with strong ties to Peachtree City.

As a venturer, I promise to do my duty to God

And help strengthen America, to help others,

And to seek truth, fairness, and adventure

Chick-fil-A recently announced that Fayetteville resident Zach Yokum was awarded the 1,000 Leadership Scholarship. Yokum was nominated by Mike Holmes, operator of the Chick-fil-A of Kedron Village.

Brooke Fletcher, a rising senior at Starr's Mill, won the Miss Georgia Teen USA title last year, qualifying her for a spot in the Miss Teen USA contest. On Friday, July 31, Fletcher faced off against the other Miss Teen USA qualifiers in a pageant at Atlantis, Paradise Island in The Bahamas. Fletcher placed first-runner up in the contest.

The Children's Village at Christian City was the recipient of a $925 love offering taken up at the annual Friends and Family Concert performed by Southern Nights Choral at the Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Peachtree City.

As the bell rang on the last day of school, many students ran off to spend their summer tanning by the pool, playing video games or watching TV. Lenox Tillman and Jay Wormer, however, chose to spend their summer vacation learning the ins and outs of medicine and healthcare volunteering at Piedmont Fayette Hospital through the hospital auxiliary’s youth volunteer program.

Led by Clayton State University Assistant Vice President of Outreach Dr. Kevin Demmitt, the Clayton State – Fayette instructional site once again took part in Peachtree City’s annual Fourth of July Parade.

Cadets from the Peachtree City-Falcon Field Composite Squadron of Civil Air Patrol (CAP) recently joined nearly 200 other CAP members from across Georgia – as well as Alabama, South Carolina and Nebraska – for the annual CAP Georgia Wing encampment held at Fort Gordon in Augusta, Georgia.

There is little doubt today that the myriad issues facing humanity, regardless the country or continent, have a way of impacting the lives of countless others. Whether regional or worldwide energy consumption, human trafficking and pandemics, the transformation of global communications infrastructure or politics, terrorism and debt, these are but a few of the forum topics and news reports found at a new website established by Peachtree City resident Lucio Petroccione. Through its diverse range of offerings, nxwrld.com (NextWorld) is a social network for global action launched June 1 that promotes solutions to concerns through the efforts of ordinary people.

Shannon Snell, age 17, daughter of Valerie Snell and Kevin Snell of Fayetteville and Courtney Giebler, age 17, daughter of Daria Giebler of Fayetteville and Randy Giebler of Kansas City, Missouri, have been selected to represent Georgia at the 2009 Miss American Teen Pageant.

As the Miss Georgia Teen and Miss Georgia Peach Teen, respectively, the girls will be attending the National Pageant for their age group in Florida and Disney World during the week of Thanksgiving 2009.

Saint Andrew’s Day School, the preschool and kindergarten of Saint Andrews in the Pines Episcopal Church in Peachtree City, recently held their field day event and combined the fun with a fundraiser for the Make a Wish Foundation of North Georgia.

Chick-Fil-A hosted a Customer Appreciation Day on Friday, July 10 by giving away free food to those who dressed up like a cow. Not only did Kimberly Zinkel and Emilee Malone hand-make their very own Super Cow Costume, but they also made up and choreographed their own little “jingle” complimenting their favorite foods at Chick-Fil-A. They entertained both staff and customers at the Chick-Fil-A Fayette Towne Center and the Dwarf House in Fayetteville by performing their act. You may recall seeing them on the front lawn of the Dwarf House Friday evening urging others to “Eat Mor Chikin.”

Life Scout Ricky Rojas, of Troop 172 at New Hope Baptist Church, North, will be coordinating a county-wide food and clothing drive to benefit the Fayette Samaritans and Real Life Center on Aug.

John and Daniel Best of Peachtree City played the keyboards with the World Classic Rockers last Friday night. The brothers were members of a Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp held at “The Fred.” They got some instruction from band member Mark Hoyt. To hear some of the Best Brothers Band, visit www.myspace.com/bestbrothersband. Photo/Andrew Marshall.

Bert Weiss teams up with World Football Challenge to give local kids opportunity to take the field with AC Milan

Deborah Johnson Kidwell is named Newnan-Coweta Art Association’s “Artist of the Month” for the month of July. A sampling of her work can be seen at Newnan City Hall in the City manager’s office located at 25 LaGrange Street. 

Atlanta area Artist Gloria Perkins was awarded the Grand Prize for her painting "Hotel Baudy Poppyfield" at The Fete de la Peinture in Giverny France, June 2009. Mayor Claude Landais and The Association of The Friends of Giverny presented Perkins with The Claude Monet Certificate for outstanding work in Plein Air Painting.

The Fayette County Public Library 2009 Teen Summer Reading Program is scheduled for a big finish on Thursday, July 30, when local teen musical groups of all types compete in a “Battle of the Bands” on the library lawn starting at 4:30 p.m. The competition is open to bands with members of ages 12 to 19, with an entry deadline of Monday, July 20.

Camp before spotlight show at ‘The Fred’ gives locals a chance to learn from the masters

The campers showed up during a sound check at noon, with guitar riffs from the World Classic Rockers blazing across the empty, sun-drenched seats in the amphitheater and the heavy beat of the drum rattling the hearts in their chests. It was as if the band members were playing the part of drill sergeants, saying, “This is rock and roll. If it is too loud, you are out of luck.”

Eighteen year old Peachtree City resident, Sarah Stitt, has been performing in local theater productions since she was 10 years old. Through the years she has played some very diverse supporting roles: she’s been a magic mirror, a mom, a mermaid, a bearded woman, a harem girl, a bird girl, a narrator, a wicked step-sister, a radio singer, a drunken bar maiden and even a male revolutionary war soldier. Each part was interesting and learning experiences unto itself; but none of them were considered a female ‘lead’ role. Sarah will finally get her chance to perform a leading role In the Twilight Theatre Company’s upcoming production of “Oliver!” when she will perform the role of Nancy, the abused girlfriend of robber Bill Sykes.

Senoia Downtown Development Authority (DDA) will present a free outdoor concert July 16 featuring country music recording artist Erica Nicole in a debut CD release concert. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. in downtown Senoia. The opening act will be the Southern Pride Band.

Gabriela Acuna, 22, played tennis at Starr’s Mill High School and Georgia College and State University, but this summer she is interning in a sport that is as far from the quiet courts as possible. Thanks to the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program, Acuna, who is of Hispanic descent, is working with the marketing and licensing departments of Joe Gibbs Racing. Since beginning the 10 week program earlier this summer, things have been going full speed ahead for the Peachtree City resident.

By Alice Gladden

Special to The Citizen

The Preceptor Beta Theta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi held their last meeting of the 2008-2009 year on May 12, at the home of Past President, Patsy Thorner. In a traditional Yellow Rose Ceremony, outgoing officers installed the 2009-2010 officers: President, Cookie McClure; Vice President; Teri Besch; Recording Secretary, Pam Lohmiller; and Treasurer, Carol Young.