2 Pumpkin Carving Contests - Win Great Prizes, Including Braves Tickets

This is a great weekend to get your pumpkins and begin carving them. There are two contests you can enter with one pumpkin so help your kids carve some cool Jack-O-Lanterns this weekend. Then enter your pumpkin for a chance to win prizes. There is an online contest through the Atlanta Braves. You can also bring your pumpkins to The Frederick Brown Amphitheater to be judged for their contest.

Details of the Braves Contest:

Fans can test their pumpkin artistry by entering their jack-o-lanterns in the Braves Pumpkin Carving Contest and be eligible to win a pair of tickets to any 2010 Atlanta Braves home game. A panel of Braves judges will choose the top five entries based on display of Braves spirit and originality, and fans will choose the grand prize winner in online voting beginning on October 26.

Carve your original Braves-themed creation and enter the Braves pumpkin carving contest today at: braves.com/pumpkin. Fans who would like some assistance in their carvings, can also download free Braves stencils from the site.

Pumpkin Contest at "The Fred" in Peachtree City:

You can also bring your carved pumpkin to the Frederick Brown Amphitheater on Oct. 22nd & 23rd. They are going to line the walkway to the amphitheater with the Jack-O-Lanterns for the Not So Scary Halloween Party on October 24th. Details can be found on http://www.localkidfun.com/Calendar.php or http://www.localkidfun.com/SeasonalActivities.php

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.

Parent's Night Out - Fun for All!

Peachtree City Gym in Peachtree City, GA will be hosting its last Parents Night Out of the summer this evening Friday, August 7 from 6 pm-10 pm. The event is a fundraiser for Rising Starr Middle School Cheerleaders. The cost is $20 per child, $15 for siblings. It's not too late to attend.

My children, ages 6 and 8 have had a blast at two of the PNO's at Peachtree City Gym. I dare say, they've had more fun on their nights out than we did. They should probably call it "Kid's Night Out". The 8th grade cheerleaders and adult supervisors entertain the children all evening. According to my 8 year old, it's so much fun because they get to jump in the foam pit, climb the rope wall, and just have fun with friends. My 6 year old daughter loves when they play games like, "What time is it Mr. Fox?", "Four Corners", & "Duck, Duck, Goose". She also loves the interaction with the "big girls" who dote on her. My son probably won't admit it, but he likes that part too. When we picked him up last time he commented, "Those girls are so cute!" as we were pulling away.

Although this is the last Parent's Night Out of the summer, Peachtree City Gym and the Rising Starr Middle School Cheerleaders will be holding Parent's Night Out one Friday per month during the school year. Dates will be posted on LocalKidFun.com as well as the Peachtree City Gym website.

Tiny Tunes Music Classes

I just received the following email from Jennifer Stuart, owner of Tiny Tunes Music. Tiny Tunes Music offers classes for children in Newnan and Peachtree City. If you have a preschooler and are interested in music classes this summer, read below:

"Attn: Families
I was just made aware this week that some of the classes online were showing that they were completely full when they are NOT! Please EMAIL me ASAP if you are still interested in registering for the summer session so I can get you into a class!

Also our Music Cats- for children 4-5 started this week and the kids had such a blast. You can still register your little ones thru next week if you would like them to take part this summer. This will give them a great foundation before our keyboarding class in the fall! Please email me today if you would like your child to join.

I was also made aware that the non-resident fee at Kedron has been changed from 50% to only 25%."

Click below to view the Summer Session email with Registration details.

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs065/1102064816807/archive/1102523526786.html

APRIL IS NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

Public Invited to PCA Fayette Benefit Dinner, Tuesday, April 28at Four Seasons International Restaurant in Peachtree City, 5-9pm.

Fayette, GA - This April, Prevent Child Abuse Fayette (PCA), part of FACTOR (http://www.fayettefactor.org/) joins Prevent Child Abuse Georgia and Prevent Child Abuse America in raising awareness for child abuse prevention. PCA Fayette Coalition held a very important training on April 14, 2009 at Christ our Shepherd Lutheran Church for Mandated Reports and First Responders. The topic was not easy as it dealt with an issue we think will never happen to our children, our relative’s children, or anyone we know for that matter. But it does, all too often. The topic was child sexual abuse. 1 in 4 girls are molested by their 18th birthday; 1 in 6 boys are molested by their 18th birthday. Any child abuse, but especially sexual abuse, leaves wounds and scars for a lifetime. The training, Darkness to Light, helped us look at steps to better protecting our children and how to advocate for them.

The next PCA Fayette event will be a benefit dinner at the Four Seasons International Café, 114 Huddleston Rd., Peachtree City, GA 30269 on Tuesday, April 28 from 5-9pm. Many community leaders have graciously agreed to assist FACTOR/PCA Fayette in raising awareness and funds for our community Child Abuse Prevention coalition. The public is invited to enjoy a delicious meal that night served by the volunteer community leaders. They will be your waiter/waitress for the evening! All tips and donations will go to support the work of the coalition. Four Seasons International Café, www.fourseasonscafeptc.com offers great food in a relaxing atmosphere, with a menu filled with Mexican, Chinese, Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. The night’s musical entertainment will be provided by local youth. Come, enjoy and support the work of Fayette’s Child Abuse Prevention Coalition. Your gift helps build a better future for our children. FACTOR is a 501(c)3, non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible.

Preventing child abuse means reducing the risks that threaten the health and safety of children, and increasing the strength of factors that keep families and communities strong. These protective factors are conditions that help assure the well-being of children and families. According to PCA Fayette Coalition, protective factors are positive attributes that strengthen all families and include such things as love, nurturing, acceptance, and protection. Becky Smith, Executive Director/FACTOR says, “As communities, we have a responsibility to one another. If we work together, we can help parents recognize and effectively address challenges, and we can collectively invest our resources in supporting all families.”

PCA Fayette partners; DFCS, Health Dept, CASA, Integrated Family Services, DJJ, Fayette Youth Protection Home, Promise Place, REACH Headstart, Fayette School System, Christ our Shepherd, Oasis Counseling, Mom on a Mission, www.LocalKidFun.com- all share core values - valuing children, strengthening families and engaging communities. The coalition mission is to plan and implement activities and events that bring awareness and education regarding the “why and how” of preventing child abuse in our county.

“Individuals from all walks of life can, and must, take an active role in the work of child abuse prevention,” says DePriest Waddy, Chief Executive Officer of PCA Georgia. “Investing in the well-being of all children is a sound investment. When families are healthy and strong, communities are healthy and strong. It’s that simple.”

Some ways that Becky Smith says communities can strengthen families are:

• Partner with parents. Parenting is hard work! Understand that all parents have strengths and help them build on those strengths.

• Help parents identify networks within their family and community for emotional support, encouragement and assistance.

• Promote PCA Georgia’s confidential an anonymous 1-800-CHILDREN Helpline as a source of information, support and access to community resources.

• Advocate for programs and policies that support children and family stability.

• Give of your time and resources to organizations working to build strong families and healthy communities To find out more about building protective factors within families call PCA Georgia’s Helpline at 1-800-CHILDREN (244.5373). Information is also available at www.fayettefactor.org or www.pcageorgia.org.