Notable
By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer | Published March 29, 2012
Our latest update about ‘Pip’ Arnold, the young man from St. Joseph Church, Marietta, on “The Voice” comes courtesy of his mom, Chris.
“We were SO happy Pip made it through The Voice ‘battle rounds’! Praise God, He seems to have Pip on a path that follows his dream,” she wrote in an email.
His charity, Youth in Mission, is also getting off the ground. Supporters can go to pipmusic.com to order replicas of his wristband embroidered with the silver fern. He is meeting with advisors to figure out where to send the money to support a young person who wants to go on a mission trip but cannot afford the expense.
Pip’s next TV appearance is when he sings live on April 2. Fans will need to watch the show on that Monday to learn how to vote for their favorite performer.
Pinecrest Academy student athletes stood atop the winners’ podium at a recent Forsyth County meet.
Jessica Zalzman took first place in the 3,200-meter competition and she took second place in the 1,600-meter race. She is a high school junior, with many school records.
Sarah Gehling won the pole vault competition. She’s a senior and has been competing for the Cumming independent Catholic school for her high school career. She holds many school records and is ranked third in the state.
Preston Stafford, a senior, brought home third place in the shot put. He will attend Johns Hopkins University next year to play football and study cognitive sciences.
To add to the honors, Jessica and Sarah were listed as members of the Georgia Elite. The coach is Shawn Coury.
Young people from metro Atlanta’s Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary hosted the 47th annual Gulf Coast District Junior Conference at the Crowne Plaza Ravinia in Dunwoody.
During the weekend of March 2-4, the young people gathered to learn. The theme of this year’s conference was “Strengthening the Bond of Christianity through Claverism.”
More than 300 Junior Knights, Junior Daughters and their chaperones attended, along with members of the senior division of the Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary.
The weekend was filled with workshops and meetings led by the juniors as well as several competitions, including a talent show, quiz bowl, spelling bee, photography, essay and speech contests.
At the banquet, two metro Atlanta members received awards:
Julian Brew was named Gulf Coast District Junior Knight of the Year for 2011 and Alexis White was named Gulf Coast District Junior Daughter of the Year. Both are members of St. John the Evangelist Church, Hapeville.
On Sunday, elections were held for the Gulf Coast District Junior Executive Board for 2012-2014. Several members of Zone 7 were elected to executive positions. For the Junior Knights: Matthew Amos was elected president, Thomas Vance, treasurer, and Anthony Jones, sergeant-at-arms, all from Branch 300, Atlanta (Our Lady of Lourdes Church); and Damien Evans was elected vice president and Peyton Griffin, secretary, both from Branch 313, Decatur (Sts. Peter and Paul Church).
For the Junior Daughters: Kennedy Blanchard was elected president, Brianna Brown, secretary, Alana Bufford, treasurer, and Chantel Brown, mistress-at-arms, all from Junior Court 300, Atlanta (Our Lady of Lourdes Church).
Deacon Steve Swope is slipping into his dancing shoes at this year’s Coweta’s Dancing Stars on April 18.
This annual charitable event is raising money for the Community Welcome House, which serves women and children who are victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse.
Deacon Swope has trained with a dance pro and is ready to hit the dance floor to test his hoofing skills. The two winners in the competition are selected based upon the best performance the night of the competition and the most money raised for the Community Welcome House.
He is banking on winning the contest with his fundraising.
He wrote in an email that if people want to support him and his dancing partner Rachel Ferguson go online and enter the number of votes you would like to make. Each dollar that you donate is a “vote.” All contributions are tax-deductible.
The event is scheduled for April 18 at 7 p.m. at The Coweta County Centre for Performing and Visual Arts, 1523 Lower Fayetteville Road, Newnan.
The website to cast one ballot or many is at http://bit.ly/GHSiUs.
Over $4,500 was raised for Birthright of Georgia March 10 in Flowery Branch. More than 350 runners laced up for a 5K race and 1-mile fun run through the community’s historic district, sponsored by Prince of Peace Church respect life ministry. This is the third year for the Precious Feet Race.
Jennifer Nixon said the race over three years has raised over $10,000 for Birthright in Georgia, which offers confidential support and services to pregnant women.
More than 350 runners prepare for the start of a 5K race in Flowery Branch March 10. The respect life ministry at Prince of Peace Church sponsored the annual Precious Feet event to raise funds for Birthright, which helps women in crisis pregnancies. More than $4,500 was raised.
“The community of Flowery Branch along with other supporters, including Victory 91.5, came together to help make this race a success,” she said.
Participant Kateri Howard said, “The whole experience was awesome. The course was beautiful. It was great to see so many smiling faces. … Birthright does an amazing work and it was great to get to meet and talk to so many who want to make a difference for the unborn.”