My first year in the Springs went by faster than any other in my 24 years of life—so fast that I can recall almost all that Patch has been there for as if those events happened yesterday.

Some words that instantly come to mind to describe the colorful blur include:

Exhilarating—Watching the Hillgrove and McEachern football teams prove themselves as two of Georgia’s top powerhouses.

Heartbreaking—Being on the scene of a fire while a family waited to hear if the body inside was that of their loved one. 

Contentious—Seeing two of the candidates for Powder Springs mayor—the two-term incumbent and the former police chief—battle it out for the top post in the city’s government.

Informative—Talking with a man who knows the history of practically every person buried in Powder Springs’ graveyards.

Down-home—Following a garden railroad around the tracks of a beautiful backyard in Powder Springs.

Honorable—Joining the Lithia Springs community in welcoming a fallen soldier home to his final resting place.

Diverse—Reading the 2010 Census results about the changing demographics in the area.

Charitable—Hearing a Boy Scout explain why he devoted many hours to fixing the town square fountain.

Commemorative—Glancing upon an American flag in the new Powder Springs police station containing the names of all the 9/11 victims. It was donated by a couple who lost their niece in the attacks.

Musical—Sponsoring an Open Mic Night that brought out some of the area’s best musicians.

Fun—Joining in on many of the celebrations that give citizens one more reason to be proud to call Powder Springs and Lithia Springs home.

Attached are some of my favorite videos from the past year, as well as my welcome video, published on our first day, Dec. 30, 2010.

I hope that you’ll share your memories of the past year in the comment box below, and I look forward to making many, many more memories with you in our upcoming days together.