Newspaper Page Text
2A
Peach County
HAPPENINGS
&>Out
CLCP/LITERACY
EDUCATION FOR ADULTS
IN PEACH INC.
Did you know that there
is a birth to work pipeline in
Georgia? The pipeline is the
path that children take from
birth that, when successfully
navigated, leads them to a suc¬
cessful career at the end. What
we need in Peach County is
to tighten the link between
high school and postsecondary
institutions. When a student
decides that they no longer
desire to earn their high school
diploma, GED classes are
available and will help them
get back on track toward a
successful career. The Georgia
Partnership for Excellence in
Education has identified the
Top Ten Issues to Watch in
2012 and the Role of Education
in the Economic Development
Pipeline is one of them.
L.E.A.P., your business,
education, government, non¬
profit organization, pro¬
motes literacy and encour¬
ages residents without a high
school diploma to enroll in
an Adult Education class.
Free Adult Basic Education
(ABE). English as a Second
language (ESL). and General
Educational Development
(GED) preparation classes
are taught in Fort Valley and
Byron weekly. Middle Georgia
Technical College is our liter¬
acy provider and conducts day
and evening classes. The Fort
Valley Adult Education Center
is located at 700 Spruce Street.
Wing B (478) 825-9072 and
in Byron. 202 Moseley Road
(478)956-7621.
For more information about
L.E.A.P., visit our website at
www.freewebs.com/leapinc
or call the office, (478) 825
9407 and find out how you
can help. Peter Drucker said,
"The successful person places
more attention on doing the
right thing rather than doing
things right.” Earning a GED
diploma is the right thing to
do in order to get your career
back on track. Don’t miss out
on the job opportunities that
are coming down the pipeline
to Peach County. JumpStnrt
Your Way Into A New Day!
VICTORIOUS LADIES
OF VIRTUE 2012 UNITY
RETREAT
Victorious Ladies of Virtue
will host our 20I2 Unity
Retreat! The dates are April
27-28, 20I2 at The Lodge at
Simpsonwood in Norcross
Ga.!
Your deposit of $50 by
January 8 th will hold your
spot! Reservations have
already begun to come in, so
you want to be sure to get
yours in early for this Adults
Only event! Limited accom¬
modations have been reserved.
Our agenda consists of
our Friday Night Glory Fire
Ablaze Service and Saturday
Workshops for Singles
Ministry, Marriage Ministry,
Men's Ministry and Women’s
Ministry.
Contact us at 770-597-8258
to register and for more details.
PEACHES TO THE
BEACHES
Peaches to the Beaches will
be taking place the second
weekend in March 2012!
Anyone interested in becom
ing a Fort Valley vendor, please
contact the Peach County
Chamber of Commerce with
any questions To register,
please fill out and sign the
attached form and return with
a check for $30 to reserve your
space. Spaces will be filled on
a first come first serve basis.
Vendor space is available at
the new Farmers Market and
at the Troutman House, both
on Hwy. 341 in downtown
Fort Valley Last year we had
tons of folks come through
from 9 states! If we have a
good group of vendors, we will
FEBRUARY 22, 2012
attract even more this year!
ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL
Lets take a ride to the Essence
Music Festival on July 5, 2012.
4 days and 3 nights with PCHS
Clas of 71. For more informa
P^ase call (478) 825-7919
or (478) 827-1289, (478) 955
9953 .
SADDLE UP SATURDAYS
PRACTICE CRCT SKILLS
Join us tor Saddle Up
Saturdays for four weeks begin
ning in the month of February.
• 3rd, 4th. and 5th Graders
practice CRCT skills.
• 3rd Reading
• 4th Reading and Math
• 5th Reading and Math
• 4 weekends in the month
of February - Feb. 4th. Feb. II,
Feb. 18th and Feb. 25th.
• 2 hours each grade level
(8 a.m. - 12 noon)
• 3rd - 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. ; 4th
- 9 a.m. - II a.m.; 5th - 10 a.m.
- 12 noon.
• Small group tutoring with
a teacher.
• Contact Information: (478)
235-8294 or (478) 825-0505 or
karnold@crawford.k 12 .ga.us
Benefits: Additional Practice
for the benchmark grades.
Indicators of how students will
do. Domain test for struggling
students,
FVSU UPCOMING EVENTS
“Crowns” A Stage Play
March 1-3 at 7 p.m. March 4,
2012 ^ at 3 p.m.
This gospel musical play is by
Regina Taylor, which is based
on the book by Craig Marberry
and Michael Cunninham.
Produced in association wjth
FVSU's Joseph Adkins Players.
Loacation: Austin Theatre
Downtown Fort ValTickets on
sale at www.KendrickAcademy.
com
For More Information,
Contact: Matthew Walker: (478)
827-3015 or (478) 733-8267
KEEP PEACH COUNTY
CLEAN & BEAUTIFUL GAC
EVENT
Keep Peach County Clean &
Beautiful has planned our GAC
event for Saturday. March 31,
2012. We will meet at the Fort
Valley Recycling Center at 8
a.m. We will also earmark 2
or 3 locations in both Byron
and Fort Valley to clean up on
that day. We need volunteers so
please contact Jann Culpepper
at 825-3041 or via email jann
cu I pepper® peachcou nty.net.
COLONY BANK
FUNDRAISER FOR RELAY
FOR LIFE
Colony Bank is selling
Georgia Bob’s BBQ tickets as
a fund raiser for Relay for Life.
The tickets are $8 and they have
an expiration date April 25th, so
they can buy them now and be
able to use them up until April
25th.
This is the Peach County
Relay for Life on April 27th.
We will sUrtseUing the tickets
‘T*’ J ,s \ ** h * ■* “’ P ur -
°“ r oc
1290 S. Houston Lake Road,
Warner Robins and 200 Gunn
Road, Centerville. Ga.
FVUM MARCUS BORDERS
GOING ON A MISSION
TRIP
Marcus Borders, a member of
Fort Valley United Methodist
Church is going on a mission
trip to Honduras He is leaving
February 8 th. The folks he is
going to help need a few things
that you may be able to help
with... Good used shoes (any
size) Eye glasses you no longer
need, with case if you have
small sewing kits
You may leave them at the
church annex door facing Miller
Street behind the large rock
garden, leave them on Jo Ann’s
porch. 310 College Street, or
call Jo Ann 825-1935.
Thanks. Neighbors, for
helping others!
4TH ANNUAL KOI A
GOLDFISH SHOW
March 30,31, and April I
Georgia National Fairgrounds
- Heritage Hall
FREE ADMISSION to the
general public.
M'ddle Georgia Koi
Society will present this show
featuring koi and goldfish display
tanks, vendor booths and semi¬
nars. Be there to learn about koi
and the this fascinating hobby
while viewing the best show
j n t h e southeast. Purchase
quahty koi and go | dflsh> po nd
supplies, fish food and other
items at show prices.
For more information visit
www.middlegakoisociety.com. or
call show chairman Jeb Stewart
at 478-333-3495.
TESTIMONIES & TIPS
Come praise the LORD for all
he has done and hear some great
tips on Staying Healthy in 2012.
Music provided by the Shiloh
Baptist Church Male Choir.
March I. 2012, 7:00PM hosted
by Visions for The Valley, at the
Shiloh Baptist Church, Morris
Hillsman, Sr., Pastor, HOI East
Church Street, (Hwy % East),
Fort Valley, GA.
For additional information,
please call (478) 825-9006; or
(478) 825-7581
SBDC StartSMART
Beginning Friday, April 13th,
the Macon SBDC office is offer
ing the SBDC StartSMART
program to entrepreneurs.
Owning your own business is
the American dream. Building
to withstand the test of time
rc q U j res a unique set of tools—
and a lot of hard work. SBDC
StartSMART will show you the
way.
Designed specifically for new
entrepreneurs, SBDC StartSmart
provides the resources and
support to launch your company
and put your dreams within
'
reacb
SBDC StartSMART will help
you launch a business built for
today’s challenging times. In
just 8 three-hour sessions, learn
to evaluate and implement your
v ' s ' on ty creating a thorough.
wel1 researched strategic plan.
Fridays, April 13-May 18,
20,2
Most days-9:00am-12;00pm
TWo full days-9:00am-4:00pm
For more information, please
call 478-757-3609.
FEBRUARY TAX WORKSHOP
Family Resource Center Peach
County Schools
“Income Tax Update”
Presenter: W. L. Brown, Peach
County Tax Commissioner
February 29. 20I2 10.00 AM
Family Resource Center, Riley
Avenue.
The FRC is open for public
hours on Tuesday from 2:00 to
5:00 pm and Friday from 9:00 am
to 1 2:00 noon Contact Person
Sara Mason-478-825-5933
ext. 1048
478-952-9901
smason@peachschools.org ‘
TESTIMONIES & TIPS
Come praise the LORD for all
he has done and hear some great
tips on Staying Healthy in 2012.
Music provided by the Shiloh
Baptist Church Male Choir.
March >• 20» 2 . 7:00PM hosted
by Visions for The Valley, at the
Shiloh Baptist Church, Morris
Hillsman. Sr.. Pastor, 1101 East
Church Street, (Hwy 96 East),
Fort Valley, GA.
For additional information,
please call (478) 825-9006; or
(478)825-7581
HARLOT IN A RED DRESS
Come join us at the first annual
“Harlot in a Red Dress on the
3rd Pew” Conference on March
16th at 7:30 pm and March 17th
sorting *t9 am. This conference
have heavy topics relative
to sexual immorality. All par¬
ticipants 17 and under must be
accompanied by an adult. The
event will take place at the Fort
Valley Feed Cotter at 313 Carver
Drive. Fort Valley, Georgia.
FVSU PROVIDING FREE
YARD MAKEOVERS
Fort Valley State University
is helping Peach County
residents Feb. 22 by providing
free yard services.
Three homeowners will
receive pressure washing
services, landscaping services
and energy audits totaling
more than $1,600. Landscapers
and volunteers will meet at 9
a.m. at Trinity Baptist Church,
located at 507 State University
Drive, in Fort Valley. The event
is scheduled to last until 3 p.m.
The yard makeovers will
jumpstart the annual Under
One Roof Housing Conference
on Feb. 23. “With afford¬
able housing being this year’s
housing conference theme. I
wanted to promote this theme
in the community and offer a
service to residents promot¬
ing communiveristy," Thomas
said, referring to FVSU
President Larry E. Rivers’ ini¬
tiative that promotes collabo¬
ration among the university
and its community.
Companies rendering
services include Ultimate
Landscaping, Peach Heat¬
ing and Cooling, SOA
Construction, Flint Energies,
Healthy Homes Project and
FVSU’s Cooperative Extension
Program,
Contact: ChaNae Bradley,
Public Information Specialist
FVSU Agricultural
Communications Department,
bradleyc@fvsu.edu. (478) 825-
6345 or (478) 825-6547
FORT VALLEY UTILITY
COMMISSION WORK
SESSION
A work session will be held
on Tuesday, March 6 , 2012
at the Fort Valley Utility
Commission’s McLean Water
Plant office located at 102
Central Avenue at 9 a.m.
Items for the regular Utility
Commission meeting will be
discussed.
The regular Fort Valley
Utility Commission meeting is
scheduled for Monday, March
12, 2012 at 6 p.m. at City Hall
located at 204 West Church
Street.
BYRON COMMUNITY
BLOOD DRIVE
2012 DATES
Apr 3, June 5, Aug 7
Oct 2, Dec 4 at Byron
United Methodist Church - 2
p.m. -7 p.m.
BATTLE OF BYRON ON
THE MOVE
The Battle of Byron is going
to be held on Saturday, May
5 at North Peach Park this
year. You may have heard but
there’s a good possibility Main
Street will be undergoing some
beautification projects during
spring/summerso... The Battle
has moved..
NEVERLAND IS COMING
j-q gyRON
The B Drama c|ub
p^nts the classic tale of
Ptter Pan. Mark your calen
dars ^ Saturday, March 3rd
at Byron United Methodist
Church CFC Building. Cost
will be $3. Showtime is 2 p.m.
, 7 p m f^. jnforma
lion contact Heather Rady at
319-3069
Derksen STORAGE BUILDINGS
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si
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s 55 32
NO CREDIT CHECK!
CALKjWADEiYODER
liiiill In Men non (raftsman I m MonU/tim.i.G.i §i#
HUMMINGBIRD CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Sondra Franceil
contemplates St. Francis’
Prayer for Peace at
the heart of the Prayer
Labyrinth.
Photo by Victor Kulkosky
“This place has always felt
sacred to me,” Sondra said.
From the labyrinth parking
lot a short distance from the
conservatory entrance, a visitor
passes through a gate and walks
along a 600-foot path through
the woods. Numerous wild
grape vines are intertwined
through the tree branches.
The Prayer Labyrinth sits in
a clearing at the end of the
forest path. Sondra said she cut
only two small trees to make
for the labyrinth. She left a
sassafras tree overhanging the
spiral. For now, rope outlines
the seven-ringed path of the lab¬
yrinth. A few 100-pound pieces
of marble lie on the ground,
marking key spots in the path,
with more to come as funds and
muscle power allow. Between
the marble slabs. Sondra envi¬
sions the path lined with abelia
shrubs; their tiny white flowers
are fragrant in large concentra¬
tions and attract hummingbirds
and butterflies.
The labyrinth is oriented to the
cardinal points of the compass,
with lavender, a healing herb,
planted at east, west, north and
south. The path of the Prayer
Labyrinth meanders toward the
center, bringing a visitor close
to the middle before wander¬
ing further out and eventually
reaching that center.
The center of a labyrinth typi¬
cally includes sacred symbols.
For the occasion, Sondra has
placed images of St. Francis
of Assisi and a copy of his
famous Prayer for Peace. St.
Francis is known for his rever¬
ence for nature and work for
peace. Sondra will adapt the
symbols for groups from any
faith or belief. At the very heart
of the labyrinth is newly planted
Cherokee rose - roses stand for
eternal love. Also at the site is
rosemary, a fragrant herb asso¬
ciated with healing.
It is at the heart of the Prayer
FVSU STUDENT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Police charged him with two
counts of armed robbery.
According to an article in The
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer,
McFarland and three other men
armed with handguns robbed a
21-year-old man and a 39-year
old visitor on Christmas Day.
The man apparently knew
McFarland. The man was hit
over the eye during the robbery,
according to the article.
Request For Proposals
The Fort Valley Housing Authority, of the City of Fort
Valley, Georgia (FTVHA) is seeking proposals from
qualified contractors to renovate the Family Investment
Center (FIC) located at 203 Hunt Street. Fort Valley. Georgia
31030. The Center serves as the multi-purpose facility utilized
by the community.
One original and two (2) copies of the proposal are
required to be submitted to Agency no later than by March 15,
12:00 noon. Please contact FTVHA by calling Eric Rumph.
Executive Director at (478-825-5056).
FTVHA is an Equal Opportunity Agency
THE LEADER-TRIBUNE
Labyrinth that the visitor would
typically pause lor some time
to pray, meditate or maybe take
in the sights, signs and smells
all around. It could be that the
answer to some vexing ques¬
tion arrives, if not right then,
perhaps in the days to come.
Maybe you suffer from stress,
pain or illness that begins to
fade or disappears entirely - it
is up the visitor what the Prayer
Labyrinth does.
For Edw ard. the woodsy
setting brings back fond memo¬
ries of his childhood in Belarus
in Eastern Europe, when his
father would take him on over¬
night trips into the forests to
gather wood anij mushrooms
The air, he said, has a "nar
colic" effect that soothes stress
and focuses the mind.
For Sondra, she hopes the
Prayer Labyrinth will bring
peace and heal the past and
present conflicts in the area,
and play some role in bring¬
ing peace to the whole world.
Near the labyrinth, Sondra
has planted a fig tree, a sym¬
bolic connection to the wider
world, in honor of her personal
heroine Wangari Maathai, the
late Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Maathai led a movement of
women in her native Kenya to
resist uncontrolled logging that
was contributing to desertifica¬
tion and poverty. Her Green
Belt Movement faced violent
oppression from government
and business interests, but
eventually gathered strength
and spread across Africa, plant¬
ing trees to restore devastated
environments and restore live¬
lihoods, and helping to create
more sustainable logging prac¬
tices.
Maathai's favorite tree
was the fig. sacred to many
Africans, who will not cut
them down. One of Maathai's
favorite African folk tales
was about a hummingbird
who decided to carry a single
drop of water to a spreading
forest fire. Elephants and other
animals mocked the tiny bird
for fighting a forest fire with
a drop of water, but the hum¬
mingbird replied, "I will do
what I can."
Subject to harassment,
imprisonment and torture.
Wangari Maathai would say, "I
will be a hummingbird. I will
do what 1 can."
On the other side of the
world, faced with far smaller
personal obstacles, Sondra
Franceil echoed the words of
her heroine as she sets about
healing the world.
“I will be a hummingbird,"
she said. “I will do what I
can."
Two suspects were arrest¬
ed before McFarlund: Jordan
Austin. 20 and Trenton Toney.
Both are charged with two
counts of armed robbery and
one count of possession of of
a firearm during a crime, and
burglary.
Police were seeking a fourth,
unnamed suspect, according to
the article,