Chatsworth to host ukulele festival

CHATSWORTH, Ga. — The Murray Arts Council in collaboration with the Chatsworth Ukulele Club is celebrating the mighty ukulele by hosting Chatsworth’s first-ever ukulele festival at the City Park. The festival is Sunday, May 19, from 2 to 6 p.m. Bring your ukulele and join in for an afternoon of fun. Performers: Attendees will hear performances by The Newbillies from Murphy, North Carolina; the von Wamps from Hixson, Tennessee; The West Georgia Ukulele Ensemble and the Brasstown Ukulele Group. Workshops: Want to learn the ukulele? Chatsworth Ukulele Club members will be on hand to help get you started. You can also attend a ukulele restringing workshop, so bring your ukulele and learn this useful skill. Open mic: Got a song you need to share with the world? Debut it at the festival during open mic. Sing-alongs: Join the group for some fun strumming in some songs led by experienced ukers. Door prizes and drawings: Generous sponsors have provided a variety of accessories to share. You might even win a new ukulele!

CGTC announces keynote speaker for commencement ceremony

Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) will welcome Dr. John Watford, president of South Georgia Technical College (SGTC), to deliver the keynote address at its commencement ceremony. The ceremony will honor associate degree, diploma credit-program candidates, and GED graduates. In his third year as president of SGTC, Watford has furthered his accomplishments of more than 28 years as an experienced educator. Watford served as the Vice President of Academic Affairs at SGTC from February 2012 to March 2016. He has also served as the Vice President of Operations for the Crisp County Center, the Director of Instruction, Information Technology Director, and as a Computer Information Systems Instructor for SGTC. Outside of the 28 years at South Georgia Technical College, Watford also worked as an Applications Engineer for Cooper Lighting for four years. Watford is a graduate of the Technical College System of Georgia Executive Leadership Academy and is a member of many other professional organizations. He received his Doctor of Education from the University of Georgia in 2004. He is a graduate of Georgia Southwestern State University with a B.S. in Mathematics and a Master of Science in Administration. He also earned his Specialist in Education Degree from Columbus State University. CGTC’s commencement ceremony will be held at the Macon Centreplex Coliseum, Friday, May 3, at 7 p.m., and is free and open to the public. Additionally, CGTC’s ceremony will be live streamed and may be viewed at www.centralgatech.edu. A special link will be available the day of the event.

Page family fundraiser set for Saturday

MAYO, Fla. — A fundraiser for the Luke Page family is scheduled for Saturday at Wyatt Osteen Arena in Mayo. Gates to the arena, 571 NE County Road 353, open at 4 p.m. and barbecue chicken dinners will start being served at 6 p.m. The dinners are $10. The Bowman’s band, from Tennessee, will be playing at the event and there will be plenty of raffle and auction items as well. Page was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 Mantle B cell lymphoma and has recently started chemotherapy. Bone marrow transplants are likely as well. Any donations received from the event will go directly to Page and his family to help with living and travel expenses for him to receive treatment at distant hospitals.