Clayton County Library Designing a New Teen Web Page

Teens in Atlanta's Southern Crescent have a chance to give their input in the redesign of the teen page on Clayton County Library's website.

Right now, there's an online survey available at http://www.claytonpl.org/teen that will be up until January 31, 2010. (It's also printed out and available in the Young Adult area of each of branch.)

On February 17th at 7pm teens are invited to the Library HQ and discuss the results of the survey, look at some teen sites that other libraries have created, and generate ideas about how to make the new website fun and useful. No registration is required, but please call the library if you plan to attend. They want to make sure they have enough FREE FOOD. Where: Clayton County Library System, Headquarters Library, 865 Battle Creek Road, Jonesboro, GA 30236, 770-473-3850; www.claytonpl.org

Fayette County's Apples & ArtFest on Sat., Oct. 17 ~ FREE!

The weather is going to be perfect for attending Fayette County's first Apples & ArtFest event this Saturday, October 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fayette Senior Services Life Enrichment Center located at 4 Center Drive in Fayetteville (across from the Fayette County Justice Center). Nearly 40 exhibitors will be showcasing their arts, crafts, and specialties. The event is open to the public and there is no admission cost. Proceeds will benefit Fayette Senior Services, Meals On Wheels, and Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.

With all the invigoration of a crisp fall day and the charm of a county fair, the event promises to be all that you and your family love about hometown festivals. In addition to the variety of exhibitors, there will be musical entertainment and dance exhibitions featuring Eddie Huffman and the McIntosh High School Chiefettes. Special features include fun and games at the Kids Apple COREner, the Granny Smith Memory Tree where attendees can support Meals on Wheels and Grandparents Raising Grandchildren by purchasing an "apple" in honor of a loved one, and the Apple-A-Day Healthy Living "Orchard".

A variety of food will be available for purchase, including culinary specialties by local Pastry Chef Lori Bean, along with a variety of pastry artisans. Upscale Pizza will be warming up the crowds with their famous pizza, and Todd Rossi-Fayette Senior Services’ Executive Chef will be serving Ultimate Sloppy Joes and his signature Waldorf Salad.

Individuals who have a talent for baking or cooking are encouraged to enter the Everything Apple Recipe Contest for a chance to win $100, $50, or $25 for the best "anything apple" recipe. Applications are being accepted until Friday, October 16, 3 p.m. You can find more information and an application at www.FayetteSeniors.org.

Exhibitor space is still available for just $30 and sponsorship packages are being offered to businesses who want to take advantage of being in front of hundreds of festival-goers. Applications for Exhibitors, and sponsors at www.FayetteSeniors.org.

For more information visit www.FayetteSeniors.org or call 770-461-0813.

Museum Day - FREE Museum Admisson on Sat., 9/26

I have just found out about a great FREE event coming up this weekend (Sat., 9/26/09). I know, there are already lots of fun things to do in your own local area this weekend. The LocalKidFun.com calendar is full and we picked our top picks of the week in the LocalKidFun.com Weekly Update (Click Here for subscription). However, if you have some extra time this weekend and are planning to head up to Atlanta or would like to take a short drive to Macon or LaGrange, you have to check this out.

Museums nationwide are partnering with Smithsonian Magazine to offer FREE Museum Day 2009. A list of Georgia participating museums is below. Heading out of town this weekend or would like to share this with friends and family, you can go to www.smithsonian.com/museumday to check out other participating venues. This is a great way to introduce/encourage art and culture with your family.

To get the FREE admission (2 per household), go to http://microsite.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/admission.html. You must fill out the form, print the free admission card and present it at your participating museum.


List of Atlanta, and Atlanta Southern Crescent Participating Museums:

LaGrange, GA

Legacy Museum on MainFull-screen, 136 Main Street, LaGrange GA, 30340


Macon, GA

Georgia Music Hall of Fame, 200 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Macon, GA 31202
Museum of Arts and Sciences, 4182 Forsyth Rd., Macon, GA 31210
Hay House, 934 Georgia Avenue, Macon, GA 31201

Madison, GA (I20 East past Covington)

Madison Museum of Fine Art, 290 Hancock Street, Madison, GA 30650

Atlanta, GA

High Museum of Art, 1280 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
Hammonds House Museum, 503 Peeples Street, SW, Atlanta, GA 30310
Museum of Design Atlanta, 285 Peachtree Center Ave., Atlanta, GA 30303
CDC/Global Health Odyssey Museum, 1600 Clifton Rd at CDC Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30333

Now go have FUN in your LOCAL communities with your KIDS. http://www.localkidfun.com

Free Adventure Pass to Stone Mountain

If you are looking for some cheap family fun for Fall 2009, you can't beat a FREE day at Stone Mountain Park.

John Deere is offering two Free Adventure Passes to Stone Mountain Park, plus one day of free parking (normally $10 per car). The Adventure passes allow you access to all of the premium attractions at Stone Mountain. These include, 4D Theater, Live Entertainment, Summit Skyride to the top of the mountain, Scenic Railroad, River Boat, Sky Hike, The Great Barn and more. Stone Mountain also has a number of free areas to visit so plan to bring a picnic and make a day of it. You can hike on any of the nature trails, including to the top of Stone Mountain. Other Free attractions are the Quarry Exhibit, children's playground, the Confederate Hall Historical & Environmental Education Center and the Lasershow Spectacular. Just stop by your local John Deere Dealer now through September 30, 2009 and test drive any John Deere Mower, Gator Utility Vehicle or Tractor. When you do, you'll receive a daylong parking pass and two Adventure Passes to Stone Mountain Park. The offer is good while supplies last so you may want to call ahead to your local dealer.

Peachtree City Centre For Dance Education Begins Fall Classes

Dance Contempra Centre for Dance Education in Peachtree City begins Fall 2009 classes today with instruction in Ballet, Tap, Modern, and Jazz. Dance Contempra is known in Peachtree City for their fresh, unique approach that produces amazing results in dancers. Many of the instructors continue to dance professionally and passionately pass the love of dance to their students. In the last three years alone Dance Contempra students have auditioned for and were accepted into prestigious programs such as The Rock School, Boston Ballet, Orlando Ballet, American Ballet Theatre (ABT), The Joffrey Ballet, Alvin Ailey, Radio City Rockettes and many more.

Dance Contempra accepts dancers from age 3 to pre-professional. With true “sprung” dance floors, Dance Contempra dancers experience added protection of consistency and cushioning from the floors. According to Founder and Creative Director, Paola Jenkins, "Concrete floors can create many physical problems for they allow no give. A properly sprung floor absorbs energy, preventing overuse injuries." Dance Contempra has taken the extra step to install quality flooring to ensure all dancers, those with professional goals or beginners, the ability to focus on technique in a nurturing environment.

Dance Contempra is still accepting registration. Online registration is available at http://www.dancecontempra.com. A coupon valid for $10 off first month tuition is available for a limited time at http://www.localkidfun.com.

FREE!! Backpack & School Supplies Give-Away.

Berean Bible Baptist Church is giving away free (while supplies last) backpacks and school supplies on Sunday, July 27, 2008. A worship service begins at 10:45 a.m., and the sign-ups will begin at that time. The church is located at 3515 Butner Rd. SW, Atlanta, GA 30331. For more information, please call 404-346-7149 or visit the website at www.bereanbiblebaptistchurch.org.

Thanks to Marlon for sending this info. to http://www.LocalKidFun.com. I have also placed it on the calendar of events page.

Festival for the Grand Opening of the New Interpretive Center at the Chattahoochee Nature Center

Saturday, June 20 from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday, June 21 from 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Admission:
$8 Adults, $6 Seniors, $5 Children 3 - 12,
Children 2 and Under and members Free


Take your family for a short drive to visit the Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell, GA for a two-day festival celebrating the Grand Opening of the New Interpretive Center for the Chattahoochee River, Lakeside Pavilion, and Gardens! Travel through the new interactive Explore your Watershed Gallery where you will discover the exciting components of the forest, wetlands, and river!

Entertainment: Laughing Pizza takes the stage at 10 AM and 2PM on Saturday to get you and your kids moving in the Lakeside Pavilion. Sponsored in part by The Together Fund

Mickle-A-Do will perform on Saturday at 12 PM and 4 PM and on Sunday at 1PM and 3:30 PM in the Lakeside Pavilion!

Crafts and Face Painting Explore more about water and watersheds while making fun crafts including bubble art, pitcher plant toss, and water-saver signs!

Exhibits:
Find out what organizations are doing along the Chattahoochee River Watershed and about companies helping you to conserve our resources including:
REI
EARTH University
Atlanta Audubon Society
Southeast Green
ECOVIE Rainwater Collection System
National Park Service

Parking is available in the CNC parking lot. Space is limited so please carpool or bike! Additional parking is available at St. Francis School on Willeo Road just south of Hwy 120. A free shuttle bus service will be provided for convenience.

Chattahoochee Nature Center / 9135 Willeo Rd., Roswell, GA 30075 / (770) 992-2055 / http://www.chattnaturecenter.org

For questions or additional information, contact Rebecca at 770-992-2055 ext. 236 or r.gilbert@chattnaturecenter.org.

Local Youth Theatre Group to Perform Cinderella - June 13 & 14, 2009

One of my favorite discoveries in researching family friendly activities and events for LocalKidFun.com has been the access to quality family theater in South Metro Atlanta. Just go to the Family Theater page of LocalKidfun.com or view the monthly events calendar to see all that our area has to offer children interested in the theater.

The next local production you might wish to attend is Rodger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella, presented by Backyard Kids Theatre on June 13th, at 7 p.m., and June 14th, at 3 p.m. at Heritage Christian Church in Fayetteville. Tickets can be purchased for $8 from www.brownpapertickets.com/event/64423 (for early seating) or at the door.

Cinderella is the second show produced by student founded organization, Backyard Kids Theatre. The directors, musicians, cast, crew, costume advisor, choreographers, etc. are all youth aged 7-17. They look forward to amazing you with their fabulous talent.

Directed by 8th grader Chase Thomaston, music directed by Stephanie Earle, and starring Paige McCauley as Cinderella, the performance will be fun for the entire family. Other leads include: Camille Edwards as the Fairy Godmother; Ben Papac as the Prince; Micole Mayfield as the Stepmother; Hannah and Abby Feltner as the Stepsisters, Austin and Janina Monk as the Royal Stewards, Michael Reep as the King, and Stephanie Earle as the Queen. The ensemble features: Olivia, Grant, and Evan Krug; Jordyn, Jamie, and Zack Richards; Abby Mortensen; Anna Lee Robbins; Gillian Revoir; Reagan and Avery Grillo; Preston Earle; Payton Edwards; and Rachel Brown. Choreographers are Nora Wilfong and Brent Davis, and the show Pianist is 6th grader, Nathan Hung. For more information about the organization, go to www.backyardkidstheatre.org.

Upcoming Speedway Children’s Charities Kobalt Tools 500 Events

Atlanta Motor Speedway Chapter set to host Clay Shoot and Fast Talk

The Atlanta chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities will host two fundraising events preceding the Kobalt Tools 500 on March 8, the 2^nd Annual Clay Shoot on March 5 and the Fast Talk presented by AutoTrader.com at Club One on March 6.

The 2^nd Annual Clay Shoot will feature instruction from the USA Olympic Shooting team and 2008 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Johnny Benson will be in attendance in addition to other NASCAR drivers and celebrities.

The SCC Clay Shoot will be hosted at the Cherokee Rose Sporting Resort in Griffin, just minutes from Atlanta Motor Speedway, and prizes will be awarded to the top-three finishers in each of three divisions. On-site registration begins at noon on Thursday, March 5 or you can register in advance online at www.speedwaycharities.org.

One night later, Fast Talk presented by AutoTrader.com will include dinner, drinks and a viewing of Georgia Power Qualifying Night from one of the most unique and luxurious seats in NASCAR, Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Club One. The event will also feature a post-qualifying question-and-answer session.

The question-and-answer session will feature notable NASCAR luminaries, including Speedway Motorsports, Inc. owner Bruton Smith and NASCAR president Mike Helton, among other speakers. The event will be hosted by Performance Racing Network’s Doug Rice. Fans wanting to attend can register online at www.speedwaycharities.org.

Updates to the NASCAR drivers and celebrities attending these events will be posted to www.speedwaycharities.org as confirmed. For more information on either event or Speedway Children’s Charities, please contact Shaun Birindelli at shaunb@atlantamotorspeedway.com.

Making a difference in a child’s life is the focus of Speedway Children’s Charities and we strive to do this in collaboration with the non-profit organizations we support nationwide.

Individually, SCC’s local chapters identify the needs of children in their communities and award grants to local organizations that address them.

Decorated Canine Disc Throwing Performer, Gail Mirabella, Shares Insights and Wisdom on Dogs, Kids, & Doing the Work You Love

Gail Mirabella entertains audiences of all ages with her fast paced and fun act, “Dynamo Flying Dogs”. She is currently touring with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The circus will be appearing from February 13^th through 22^nd at Phillips Arena in Atlanta.

In 2005, Gail – who had also worked full time for many years in the pharmaceutical industry – decided to leave her “day job” to focus on her dogs and her love of everything having to do with them. In addition to her many public appearances, she has been much in demand to teach courses in agility, obedience, disc and flyball. Gail Mirabella has garnered regional titles in canine disc competitions throughout the United States, and has won the right to attend several world finals and founded the New England based Yankee Flyers Dog and Disc Club, of which she remains president.

Gail was a member of the Purina^® Incredible Dog Team for five years, traveling the country sharing her expertise, giving demonstrations and entertaining crowds at sporting events, festivals and fairs as well as on television’s Today Show, Tonight Show and Late Night with David Letterman.

Candace Robichaux, owner of LocalKidFun.com had the chance to talk with Gail recently. Surrounded by her 12 dogs, many of whom she rescued from shelters, Gail spoke candidly about how she made the leap to working with her dogs full-time, tips on travelling with dogs, why dogs are important for kids and some quick training tips you can use at home.

Q: A few years ago you left your corporate job to pursue your passion for your dogs full-time. What made you finally decide to leave the security of your job and go join the circus?

A: I had been doing agility training and working dogs for a long time on a part-time basis. I’m always stressed about leaving my dogs when I have to go to out for a short time. I wonder what they are up to. When my mom passed away 10 years ago, I realized that life is too short to be stuck behind a desk all day. With the emotional support of my family, I decided to finally do what makes me happy. My family supported me because they know once I put my mind to something I get it done. At first I was planning on opening a dog training facility. I set myself up financially when I left my job and knew I could always go back to the corporate world if I had to. When you do make that leap, you will look back and ask yourself why you didn’t do it sooner. My advice to others: figure out what you are passionate about, secure yourself financially, then take the leap into doing what you love. You will never regret giving it a try.

Q: You have been traveling with your dogs to many different cities on your tour with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Can you give us some tips on traveling with pets?

I am first and foremost a firm believer of safety with the dogs. I currently have 12 dogs. I purchased a large cargo van and a crate for each dog. The crates are secured to the walls of the van and to each other. I can’t stress strongly enough how important it is to secure dogs in a crate or seatbelt while in the car. I’ve had 5 friends who were in terrible car accidents with their dogs and the dogs were killed. One person had a fender bender and their dog was killed because it was on his lap and the airbag crushed it. You wouldn’t put your two year old in a car without securing them. You should do the same for your dogs. It’s not just for the dog’s safety. You wouldn’t want a 30-50 lb projectile flying forward and then back into a child that might be in the car. Also, don’t ever let your dog stick their head out the window. I was a vet tech for 7 years and can recall many animals coming in with eye injuries due to something flying into their eye or a branch slicing their eye open. Safety is number one.

Q: Dogs thrive on routine. How have you managed to keep them on a schedule during your travels?

My dogs still eat twice a day, at the same time every day. They get let out often. I have kennels set up in my trailer and the dogs get fed in their crates. I also set up a yard outside my trailer at each location. If it’s warm out, I leave the door to the trailer open and they can come in and out as they please. I am sitting on the couch in my trailer surrounded by dogs right now. The key to keeping the dogs happy is trust. Dogs don’t stress out if they trust their owner or handler. Also, having multiple dogs helps. They keep each other entertained.

Q: Have your dogs ever disobeyed your command or made a big mistake during a performance? How did you get them back on track?

A: I do agility and Frisbee in the show. It’s very high paced and high energy, if they make a mistake it’s usually a handling error. I train the dogs by the American standards of dog training - teach them basic obedience first then the tricks like Flyball, Frisbee, agility, etc. I typically use herding breeds and a couple rat terriers in the act. When they make a mistake, it’s not the dog. They are out to please you. Their reward is the fun, catching the Frisbee is the reward. Recently one of the dogs missed a Frisbee because he looked down at a carrot left by a previous act. I never have trouble getting them back on track because they love it so much. When they miss, it’s no big deal, but when they catch a Frisbee, the crowd goes wild. The dogs look like they are having a blast and they are.

Q: How do you recognize what mood your dogs are in?

A: I can just tell if they start looking around, their ears go down, their tails drop, etc. I may already know about something that stresses out a particular dog from practice. I have one dog who stops whenever she sees a shadow. I never get mad at them. I figure out what I can do to keep them from stressing. I build them up & build them up with positive reinforcement until they are ready. I rescued one dog who had very little human contact. She was a basket case and I took her on as sort of a project. Now she performs in front of thousands of people and the music and lights. It took a long time, but we developed a very strong bond. I make it lots of fun for the dogs and use lots of positive reinforcement, lots of treats. If they start stressing out, I back off on that trick and go back to something they feel more comfortable with. One time I put a dog out there that just wasn’t ready, but I needed him as a backup. He didn’t perform all the tricks well, but he was out there jumping around and having fun and the crowd went wild anyway.

Q: Besides your dogs, what is your favorite animal or act performing in the circus?

I love the elephants. They are majestic, huge and able do things that you wouldn’t imagine like sitting upright on their hind legs. A neat trick they do during the act is when a couple of elephants lay down and smaller ones slide down them. It’s a lot of fun to watch and you can tell the elephants are happy, with their ears flapping. Backstage the elephants are calm and cool and each has its own personality. They are very intelligent. Sometimes I work with the elephant handlers to try to teach one of them to catch a Frisbee. There’s one who can catch a stick with his trunk. It would be cool to someday have the elephant throw a Frisbee and a dog catch it.

Q: My dog takes off every time we let her off the leash or gets out of the fenced back yard. What is your advice for handling this situation and what tips can you give other people when training their dog?

A: With this problem, I would go into a fenced area and begin working with your dog on recall. If you always use the word “come”, change it to something else. I use the word “here”, it sounds a lot more pleasant and higher pitched. A dog shouldn’t come on its name. Dogs should always look at you on its name. For example, call “Jake”, when the dog looks at you then throw a treat. If the dog crosses a busy street and you call their name you don’t want them running back across the street to you. Their name should cause them to pause, look at you and wait for the next command. For your treats, use something good like a piece of turkey hot dog or cut up string cheese. All positive reinforcement is the key. Then when you’re not in the fenced in area use a flexi lead and let them roam as far as they want. Then call their name and say “here”. When they come to you give them a treat. Eventually this may teach them to stay with you and listen to your recall commands. If they do take off, the best thing you can do is run in the opposite direction. Otherwise, it becomes a game for them and they think they have the pack following them.

Q: You entered your first junior dog competition when you were 10 years old. Why do you think dogs are so important to kids?

A: Dogs offer a bond. I had lots of friends, but there was something special about the bond with my dog that couldn’t be replaced. It made me mature and really helped with my self-esteem through my teenage years. I was seeing a psychologist when I was young because I had very low self esteem. The psychologist actually told my parents to buy me a dog of my own instead of just the family dog. For my 14th birthday I got a wolf hybrid named Timber. He lived for 14 years and even went to college with me. I had someone to talk to and cry to, someone always with me. It gave me self-worth, something relying on your for friendship. They are always happy to see you, never make fun of you, no matter what your hair looks like or if you have ugly shoes, the dog doesn’t care. Having a pet can give kids some direction. Another option is the local 4H clubs. Some 4H clubs have competitions at agriculture or state fairs. When I was doing Frisbee shows with my dogs independently at state fairs, I loved to see the 4H competitions. There would be a young child with a chicken that he groomed and trained. The pride in the child’s face was priceless.