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Wendy’s word

Last week marked the beginning of college football — Southern tradition (and addiction) in many homes. We watched as ESPN counted down the last 23 hours until kickoff of the season’s inaugural game between LSU and Mississippi State. College Gameday kicked off promptly at 9 a.m. Saturday morning, culminating in Alabama’s season opener against Western Carolina and Auburn’s meeting with Kansas State.

It’s a great time of the year, and one I look forward to with great anticipation. To lounge around, watching games and enjoying favorite tailgating snacks, in my opinion, makes for the perfect fall day.

Whether you’re a football fan or not, enjoy this new season of life. It’s a great time of year, but the joys will certainly be found beyond the scoreboard, and certainly, beyond a weekly concern over what Nick Saban’s wife will wear to the next game.

Now let’s see what the “chatter” is for today ...

‘Meet and Greet’

Newcomers Club of Decatur will hold a “Meet and Greet” luncheon Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., with a Welcome Coffee on Sept. 19 at 10 a.m.

Upcoming monthly highlights will include the annual Fundraising Auction on Oct. 10, Canasta, Game Day and a Lunch Brunch.

This is a great time for those new to the community to make friends and hear about things to see and do in North Alabama. The cost for lunch is $12. For reservations or information on upcoming events, please call Stacie Thompson at 751-4773.

Sav-A-Life

It’s not every day you get a new name and a new home, but Sav-A-Life Pregnancy Center, formerly Pregnancy Resource Center, was recently blessed with both.

During a recent ceremony and open house, a new location was dedicated at 801 Bradley St. S.W. The former location was on Central Parkway Southwest. Board members are Dr. Robert Allen, president; Jim Swindell, vice-president; Joseph Wynn, treasurer; Deborah Gardner, secretary; Michelle Echols; Gary Kessinger; Dr. Ben Light; and Mark Timm.

Pastor Doug Ripley of Decatur Baptist Church offered a prayer, followed by comments from Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur; Mayor Don Kyle; and Bob Foust from Care-Net.

The center was founded on Feb. 10, 1987, through the vision of James R. Aycock, Ron Madison, Nancy Norris, Carolyn Tweedy, William Johnson III, Susan Carrell and Witty Allen, and it continues as a ministry in Morgan County.

“In a loving, spiritual environment, clients receive free medical pregnancy testing and counseling, as well as putting clients in contact with agencies that can assist with such physical needs as medical, housing and clothing needs that Sav-A-Life cannot provide,” Executive Director Linda Buchanan said.

“Each year, the center also helps provide clothing, diapers, formula and baby cereal, and all types of baby items to children from birth up to 4 years old,” she said. “Weekly Bible study classes are also taught with an ‘Earn While You Learn’ program, enabling clients to earn credits toward brand new baby items they could otherwise not afford.”

Through continued support and community alliances with local churches, individual donors and financial supporters, as well as local nonprofit organizations, such as Neighborhood Christian Center, PACT, Community Action, LifeLine, Women’s Health Services and Best Start, Sav-A-Life continues to offer alternative solutions to clients other than “abortion” of the unborn child.

Sav-A-Life is a Christian pregnancy center dedicated to helping young women experiencing a pregnancy-related crisis in their life by offering free counseling, pregnancy tests and current information regarding STDs, abstinence until marriage, as well as information about adoption and medical help services.

Sav-A-Life’s staff is made up of Buchanan; Joy Reiber, office manager; Joy Jones, EWYL coordinator; and Carla Humphries, administrative assistant. For more information or assistance, call 355-3828.

That’s all for now. It’s been great “chattin” with ya!

Let me know what is going on in your little corner of the world. If it’s special to you and features any of the great people who live in our community, then it will make a great Chatterbox item. Just e-mail me at ddchatterbox@yahoo.com, or call me at 350-5730. I look forward to hearing from you.

Alpha Alpha begins

The Decatur Alpha Alpha Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi kicked off this year with a Beginning Day dinner at the home of Pat Tarpley. Hosted by members of the executive board, the dining room was decorated with the year’s sorority theme and featured a dinner with dishes representing Libya, India, Russia, Solomon Islands, Brazil, Pakistan, Egypt, Mongolia, Ukraine and China. Those attending were Ellen Andrew, Melvye Cooper, Sue Trammell, Jan Schubert, Bess Stark and Jan Abercrombie. Before leaving, everyone received a gift bag with themed note cards and a charm.

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