I hope you enjoyed last week’s feature on the transformation of Cecilia Grinstead’s lovely Ft. Dale Road home. I suppose you could say we are doing a bit of &uot;remodeling&uot; ourselves on our Lifestyles section.

We bid goodbye to our food features (though we will be happy to share great recipes sent in by our readers) and say &uot;hello&uot; to stories about the people, places, and events taking place in our local communities. (We see it as a sort of print version of WSFA’s &uot;County Road 12.&uot;)

We will introduce you to folks with interesting hobbies, collections and unique businesses, and visit with some of our local artists and artisans and discover what inspires them to create.

We’ll take you to school events (like today’s feature on Greenville High’s first-ever chess tourney) and visit some of our historic homes and other local landmarks.

Of course, we will need your help in this endeavor. If you know of a person, place or event in Butler County (or even one of our border counties) that would make a perfect subject for a Lifestyles feature, please come by the office, call me at (334) 382-3111 or e-mail me at angie.long@greenvilleadvocate.com (still the best way to touch base with me). You can even snail-mail me at 103 Hickory St., Greenville, AL 36042.

We also want to hear what our local organizations and clubs are doing, so be sure and send us your write-ups and photos so we can let everyone know how you are benefiting the community.

We’ll look forward to hearing from you!

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I want to remind everyone of the upcoming GAAC Benefit Gala and Silent Auction coming up this Saturday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Cambrian Ridge Club House. There will be live music, lots of great hors-d’oeuvres, a fun Mardi Gras atmosphere and the chance to bid on some quality items at bargain prices.

It’s open to everyone; non-members (those who haven’t made a donation to GAAC) pay $25 per person and all GAAC members attend free.

The monies raised benefit the ongoing Ritz Theatre Restoration Fund.

Help keep this gem of a theater a viable showcase for the arts in the Camellia City!

Speaking of the Ritz, my mother and I enjoyed the final performance of the FDA Players’ presentation of &uot;Arsenic and Old Lace&uot; at the theater Sunday afternoon.

The young cast did a fine job with the comedy- Jessica Hyatt and Madison Norrell were particularly delightful as the sweet and charming homicidal aunts. Kudos to the students who built the impressive-looking set, complete with staircase (the better for Teddy Brewster to charge up as &uot;Teddy Roosevelt&uot; numerous times).

Until next week!

Angie Long is the Lifestyles writer for the Greenville Advocate.

She can be reached at 382-3111 or via email at angie.long@greenvilleadvocate.com.

Also, write her c/o Greenville Advocate, P.O. Box 507, Greenville, AL 36037.