Georgia Project

November is here that means it is almost time for thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it brings the whole family together and there is tons of great food. And it’s a good time to reminisce on the year and be thankful for all the wonderful things that have happened.

If you are thinking about having a lot of friends and family over for thanksgiving it might be a good idea to have some sort of activity that everybody can play. It is getting a little to cold to do outdoor activities but a game room inside would certainly be a good time for all your loved ones. You can stay warm and cozy inside but still have a fun time.

With colder temperatures headed our way, the chance for outdoor activity is soon to be limited. So you better take advantage of these amazing temperatures we are getting right now. Going to a corn maze is always one of my favorite things to do when the leaves start to change and air gets cooler. Not only is if fun for adults, it is fun for the whole family. A great one to consider is the Southern Belle Farm in McDonough, Georgia. They offer many activities, outside of the corn maze, that everyone can enjoy. Pumpkin picking, hay-rides, pig races, and the corn cob cannon just to name a few.

But when the temperatures really get low, my favorite thing to do is to huddle up next to the fireplace in our basement, and have a family game night. Typically we play cards, but board games are always fun too. So if you are a cool weather fan like me, options for activities are all around us here in Georgia. So get out, enjoy the relief from the brutal summer.

Six Flags Over Georgia has a promotion going right now that allows everyone to purchase a one day ticket to the theme park for the same price as a kids ticket.  While they say the promtotion is for a limited time, it has been in effect most of the summer.  Every time you see or hear the ad, you are encouraged to hurry up and take advantage of the offer.

The theme park boasts 10 or more roller coasters, including the new Goliath.  Goliath claims to be the new benchmark for thrill rides everywhere.  With it’s 200 foot ascent, zero gravity, and 8.5 acre coverage, Goliath thrills riders all the way outside of the park and back into the park.

While roller coasters and thrill rides get the most attention, Six Flags also has many rides for non thrill seekers.  One of the classic family rides, The Monster Plantation, has been reworked and is now called The Monster Mansion.  If your want to cool off with water on a hot summer day, try the Log Jamboree, Thunder River, or Splashwater Falls.  For the small children in the family there is the Bugs Bunny World.

The English bulldog that served as the mascot for the University of Georgia Athens, UGA VII, passed away today. He was the seventh dog to have this role and his run began August 30, 2008. Nearing the end of his second season, UGA VII was only 4 years old and is reported to have died of heart related problems. His father and predecessor, UGA VI, had been the mascot for UGA for nine years. According to a report on georgiadogs.com, there will be no mascot at the upcoming Georgia game on Saturday. However the former mascot’s north sideline doghouse will have a wreath placed upon it for the game.

Dogs have been mascots for UGA regularly since 1946, but the pure English bulldogs belonging to the Sonny Seiler family of Savannah Georgia have been the mascot since 1956. The family has noted that there are several options for a replacement mascot, but no decision is likely to be made until some time next year.

Before you know it Thanksgiving will be here and that means school kids will be on break. Unfortunately some parents would rather hand out money to their kids like candy rather than spend quality time making lasting memories together. Fifteen years down the road your kids won’t recall all the money you handed them or most of the different toys they were given. However, they will recollect entertaining activities done together as a family.

Fortunately, in Georgia there is an abundance of fun filled activities to participate in. The Atlanta Zoo is a blast with all the animal varieties hosted there. The Georgia Aquarium is phenomenal, definitely an all day affair. Another alternative are the many fantastic museums in the area. For instance, the High Museum of Art and the Doc Holliday Museum are some of the most informative museums around. Really, the possibilities are endless so go ahead; take time out of your schedule and do some activities with your kids they will remember for a life time.

This Saturday is Halloween, as I am sure all of you with children are well aware of this fact. Keep you children safe and observe these simple Halloween tips. Be selective on the places you allow your children to trick or treat. Make sure they have some type of reflective clothing on so they can easily be seen in the dark. Last, but not least instruct your children not to eat any of the treat they receive until you have carefully inspected the goodies. Have a safe and happy Halloween.

The devastating floods in September of this year have displaced children in fourteen counties due to the horrific damages to schools. Only a few schools are requiring relatively minor repairs. Most will need extensive work done before education can continue. Sadly, some schools were so damaged that they will have to be torn down completely. The cost of repairs not only to the schools, but community damages as well has yet to be completely calculated. With already shrinking county budgets, expenses are sure to put a strain on all that have been affected. People in surrounding areas can count on tax increases to help elevate already exhausted budgets. People in these counties need to be pro active and try to raise funds before strenuous taxes are enforced. Many people are willing to participate in charity events especially if activities of interest are being offered. Some very popular items to include at a fundraiser are carnival wheels, poker tables, and blackjack tables. Any number of such events is capable of drawing large crowds and loads of cash.

If you or your school district are thinking about hosting a fund raiser for the costly repairs the schools due to the severe flooding last week, but don’t know where to start, it is actually quite easy. One of the best money making events you can have is a “casino night”. All the paraphernalia you would need for a fun filled profitable event are available online. The basics like poker chips, playing cards and various other items are all that is really needed to make the event a success. Since there is no actually real gambling going on even the kids in the community can participate. Charge a per person entry fee, sell food and drinks; and have a raffle for something that has been donated. By the end of the evening you will be surprised how much money has been collected. A fund raiser like this will not only help raise money for the school repairs, but it will also help bring the community together after such a devastating time.

Evidently Georgia’s coast has several operational and historic lighthouses.  One particular light house at St. Simons Island has not been off since World War II.  The lighthouse was ordered off along with all other east coast lighthouses by President Roosevelt to help ships avoid German U boats that were patrolling the eastern seaboard.

Now the lighthouse is being shutdown for a four month restoration project.  The lighthouse is currently maintained by volunteers from the US Coastguard.  The lighthouse also has a special light that can be seen up to 23 miles out to sea.  Restoration will include cleaning bricks, repairing mortar, sanding metal parts, and then priming and painting the whole structure.  Many of the planned repairs will hopefully be made with $500,000 in federal funds; however a matching amount of $500,000 must be raised in order to secure the grant.

Due to severe flooding this past week Clarkdale Elementary school in Austell GA was hit extremely hard by the flooding. The entire school was flooded up to the roof. The damage to the school is beyond simple repair. The entire structure will have to be torn down and completely rebuilt. The children of this particular school and others that were hit hard by the floods will be redistributed to surrounding counties until their schools can be reopened.

Now is an excellent time to host a casino night fund raiser. All you need is some poker chips, playing cards and maybe a few more poker accessories. Charge a donation entry fee and donate the proceeds to the schools in need. We need to all pull together and do what we can to get these schools up and running for all the displaced kids.