Thanks for making pancake day a success

Published Wednesday, February 24, 2010

The Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast was well attended. We sold almost 400 breakfasts, everyone had a good time and bragged on the food. By the time all money is collected and all bills are paid, I’ll mention the net amount we made. We need to buy kindergarten books and sponsor a Dixie Youth team, as well as other projects. The money from our fundraisers, as you know, are always used to help children. Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time! If you’d like to consider joining our club, please come have lunch with us any Thursday at noon. (RSVP to 750-0883 first. Thanks.)

We 20 Kiwanians that “worked” the breakfast wish to thank seven DHS Key Clubbers for working alongside of us, as they were a great help – Ryan Wilkerson, Landon Poston, Dillon Gulledge, Dane Shaw, Jasmine Williams, Eboni Threat and Angel Wilson. Thanks, guys. A special thanks to the two heroes who were there from 6 until 11:30 a.m.: Wilkerson and Poston!

On Saturday at 11 a.m., there will be a fashion show benefiting Camp ASCCA and Children’s Miracle Network featuring Johnathan Kayne, the “Project Runway” Top 5 Finalist and star of “Gown Crazy” on TLC. Also participating in the show will be Miss Alabama’s Outstanding Top 12 Teens. Cost is $25 per person or $200 for a table of eight people. Contact Taylor Yates at 825-9226 for more information.

Attending the Methodist Church last Sunday (the first Sunday in Lent) was most enjoyable. Our choir loft was full and in fine voice, directed by Barry Reed with LaNell Black on piano and Carol Smith at the organ. The Children’s Choir (led by Terri Stephenson) sang “Let’s Just Praise the Lord” accompanied by Lydia Staples on piano and Franklin Staples on his violin. Lovely number with much enthusiasm. For the offertory, the children’s hand chimes played “For the Beauty of the Earth” which was beautiful. Baxter’s sermon was “Telling It Like It Is” which I also enjoyed very much.

Spring Break coming up on March 15-19 with students returning to school on Monday, March 22.

On March 20 at 11:30 a.m., the Methodist Christian Women in Action will host a luncheon and fashion show which I plan to attend. Tickets are $15 each and will include fun, food, fashions and door prizes in the Methodist Fellowship Hall. Call the church at 825-4404 to ask about tickets, as the room has limited space and was really packed last year. This is a girlie-girlie event, sorry guys.

Last week’s program at Kiwanis was fabulous. Lowell Ledbetter invited his daughter, Laura Dowling, to be our speaker and she was most interesting. Subject was home schooling. How much do you know about the rules and regulations for home schooling? (We didn’t either, but we do now.) Each state has its own required standards and since Laura and her family moved from state to state during her hubby’s military career, you can imagine the paperwork involved. Printed curriculums, papers graded via U.S. mail, etc. Since 1990, nine of the Dowling youngsters have been home schooled, with the oldest receiving three to four college scholarships. Of course we weren’t surprised to hear of the Dowling successes, since their closest relatives (Chuck and Kim Ledbetter) had three daughters with outstanding DHS school records: two were valedictorians, one was the salutatorian, and of course all were outstanding Key Clubbers. Guess the Ledbetter/Dowlings have good genes?

If you have items in your household you’d like to give away, please contact the Girls Ranch in Camp Hill (896-4113). They’ve given the Kiwanis Club a list of household needs and ranch maintenance needs, which is a two-page list of things such as storage containers, trash cans, cleaning supplies and first aid supplies to bigger needs such as wheelbarrows, leaf blowers, outdoor furniture, lawn mowers, etc. Please contact them to discuss their needs. I’m sure your house is ready to be down-loaded from those treasures badly needed at the ranch. Thanks for your help on this.

The B.B. Comer Memorial Library in Sylacauga has only one more “Brown Bag Lecture” this year. On March 10, the program will be “American Made: The Enduring Legacy of the WPA.” Please arrive by 11 a.m.

Stop by Lil Lambs & Ivy to buy your Girl Scouts Cookies at $3.50/box, all flavors! Peggy Bullard is the only person in town selling these cookies, and she has many boxes left.

DHS News

The eighth grade parents will meet at the DHS Auditorium at 6 p.m. tonight, Feb. 25.

Congratulations to Matt Bianchi on his Leadership Scholarship to Auburn University. Matt also worked with volunteers on the Eagle Scout Service Project who renovated the Councill Middle School break area. He would like to thank the following for helping with donations: Floyd’s Feed and Seed, Russell Do-it-Center, and volunteers at the project.

Our DHS Boys tennis team stands at 4-0, hooray. This is the third year DHS has had a team. The new bleachers provided by Kiwanis look great and will get a lot of use.

The DHS graduation exam is coming up! Our goal is to give a prize to every sophomore completing all five parts of the exam. Those names will go into the “hat” and be drawn to receive a prize. Cheryl Bynum, DHS counselor, asks that local businesses please call the school (825-7848) for questions, or stop by with a donated prize. This is a good cause folks.

Edward Bell News

The boys’ basketball team, Edward Bell Bears, is playing Thursday for a state championship! We’re pulling for you guys.

CMS News

Principal Chris Hand’s focus is on testing, testing, testing. From March 23 through April 8, all middle school students will be involved with many tests: the Alabama Reading and Math Test; the Alabama Writing Assessment; the Alabama Science Assessment and the Stanford Achievement Test. Parents of CMS students are urged to see that your children get good nights of sleep and a good breakfast, especially during this two week period. It really makes a difference.

DES News

Spring Pictures will be taken Friday, so everyone dress your best and comb your hair!

Cookie dough orders need to be picked up on Tuesday, March 2, before 5 p.m. Please.

On March 2 from 6-7 p.m., DES is having Academic Boost Night for the parents to help their children with ARMT, SAT and DIBELS testing. An academic boost to carry home and get your kids ready for testing. Good.

Library News

The Book Club of the library will meet March 17 at 12:30 p.m. in the lower level of the library. The book to be covered is “Elegance of the Hedgehog” by Muriel Barbery.

Check out the Web site to learn more about the Book Club. Librarian Amy Huff sent me a synopsis of this book and it sounds great. You’ll have an entertaining time with a group of intellectuals.

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Betty Hayes is a columnist for The Dadeville Record covering Dadeville.