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Aug 16 - Sep 5 VOLUME 2
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Aug 16 - Sep 5 VOLUME 2 Issue No.
The Townie Celebrates One Year in Print
14
Whispers.
Chums Bunny Byrne This week’s Chums is about our editrix-in-chief who, a year ago, up and decided she was going to turn a blog into a print publication and well…did it. She carved herself a niche in the local news scene with the Townie’s particular focus on people, businesses and events. If you’ve ever seen a blonde bob on girl-like features headed down Broad Street, you’ve seen Bunny, whose love for journalism and Thomasville made this paper. - Jennifer W.
PHP is mentioned in this month’s Southern Living Magazine... This little venture of ours really started on November of 2009. What was just a simple want, a desire voiced by a group of local business women turned into a blog overnight. That blog gained traction and a following, and I spent 3 years building it into a point of connection between Townies, retailers, organizations and the like. As a non-native Thomasvillian, it was a perfect way for me to discover and become involved in my new hometown, and to connect with others seeking to do the same. I’ve lived several places, and this is the only one that feels like home. One year ago, some of the same businesswomen pushed me to think in a new direction - what if the blog moved to print? At a time when people were moving away from print publications, and newspapers and magazines were folding every day, it seemed crazy. But there was a need to be filled, and since my degree and experience are in print journalism, I thought it was worth a try. Armed with the knowledge that it’s ok to fail--in Thomasville it really is--I moved forward. A dear and talented friend, Leslie Ballenger of Ballenger Design, agreed to jump into the unknown with me and we started publishing every first and third Friday on a legal sheet of copy paper. We had three sponsors committed to the paper long-term, which was just enough to print it. We were having a blast collecting stories and building and connecting. The Townie was no longer just me, writing in the dark hours and
wondering if someone was reading; it was now a paper, a tangible thing, and other people were a part of it. Fast forward one year and our anniversary issue is 8 times bigger than where we started. We have staff: a team of writers, distributors and an ad specialist. We now have 16 long-term sponsors who put their hardearned dollars where their hearts are in helping to keep the Townie free for readers. Readers send us tips, encouragement and connect with us on Facebook. Our readers are the reason we write, pound the pavement, sniff out the scoops, get the whispers, slog through event notices, stay up late editing, try new menus and work behind the scenes with business owners. I’m not the Townie anymore; we all are. My fellow Townies, this is all for you. What started as my way of learning about Thomasville has become our way of bringing you the best it has to offer. And isn’t that just so very Thomasville--to turn something you love into an act of love done for others? We love this Thomasville life, and we want you to, as well. To Thomasville! XOXO - Bunny Byrne, Creator + Editor
Was there an exact moment when you realized that your endeavor was a success? Hmm… I suppose not losing money on it is all I ever asked of it. Aside from that, I’m not sure what you would define as success, but it’s fun/funny when “strangers” recognize me. I’m a behind-the-scenes person by nature, so it’s a scary kind of fun.
TCA has a new artist in residence... There’s a new theater group in town…see article below...
What sets the Townie apart from other area publications? We’re free and we’re fun, need I say more?
New menus at Grassroots, Liam’s and Bacchus…
What is your favorite part of the job? The connection aspect of the whole thing. I love connecting with locals, business owners and organizations, finding out what makes them wonderful, and then connecting other people to that wonderfulness.
The newest magazine in the Ville has a name and a look…stay tuned for the reveal...
What do you see in the future for the Townie? It may not look this way, but it’s a seat of the pants kind of operation. When I released ad dates until the end of the year, back in March, I got a little frightened. I’ve only ever had one real job, and here I am giving myself one. So, the answer to your question is, whatever strikes my fancy. We took a chance on our traveling Townie Toast and the Forgotten Coast ebook and those were received really well. We’ve even done some invite-only sales and a Brunch and Barter a few years ago. They were great one-offs, so maybe more of that.
Could there be a healthy-food Food Truck in the Ville’s future?
What does Bunny Byrne enjoy when completely unplugged from the Townie? Riding, reading, writing, cooking. Maybe cooking should be first.
Psst...do you have a whisper? Got a tip for the Townie or a story idea? We’re all ears! yourtownie@gmail.com
Selling the Bookshelf: She Said/She Said
Thomasville Townie’s
One Year in Print Party Come meet the writers, sponsors and fellow Townies!
Now that the deal is a go, we wanted to get the low-down on the hows and whys of the Bookshelf’s change of ownership. Rest assured, your favorite bookshop is alive and well and in good hands. - Bunny B.
Bacchus Wine Bar Thursday, August 15, 6-8 PM
BB: How did the two of you meet?
Scott was swamped in his businesses and we have another baby on the way. Annie had been our manager in the Tallahassee store for almost a year and had gone to market with me a couple of times so I knew if she was interested in a bit of a life change, she would be a great candidate to take over. So we thought it would be a good time to talk about selling or closing the Tallahassee store and recruiting her up to Thomasville.
KC: Annie wrote me this beautiful email when she heard we were opening a store in Tallahassee to express interest in a career change. I read her blog and immediately thought she had the interests and style to be a really good bookseller and retailer. It didn’t hurt that several of the books she mentioned in her email are some of my favorites. When we first met for coffee, she was one of those quiet but thoughtful people that I love to talk to in bookstores.
Red Hills Players Present Debut Production The newly formed Red Hills Players, a regional theatre group who recently partnered with Thomasville Center for the Arts, will stage their debut performance of Jane Eyre: The Musical on Saturday, August 17th, at 7PM on the main stage at the Center for the Arts. The troupe, consisting of theatre professionals from across the region, was formed not only out of a love for the stage, but with the intention of giving back to the community’s youth programs so that any child who dreams of being an actor may have the opportunity; many members of the Red Hills Players grew up on stages in Thomasville and the surrounding area, and are adamant about the importance of youth theatre programs for aspiring actors.
One Book Coming Soon
The group is dedicated to the concept of community, not only in its intention to give back to the town, but in the staging of each production; proceeds from Jane Eyre: The Musical will be split and donated to Thomasville on Stage and Company’s Ron Shank Endowment fund—which was formed to serve the dayto-day needs of the historic storefront theater and its productions—and to youth programs at Thomasville Center for the Arts. The public is encouraged to attend two dress rehearsals on the 15th and 16th, where admission is free but donations are welcome. Tickets to the debut show on the 17th are $10 for all ages and can be purchased at the Center’s website: www.thomasvillearts.org or by calling (229) 226-0588. —Jennifer W.
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AJ: I met Katie during her search for a new manager for the Tallahassee branch of The Bookshelf. I had long loved visiting the store on Saturdays spent in Thomasville, and when I heard they were opening a location in Tallahassee, I couldn’t believe it. I was thrilled as a customer, but also as someone who has long dreamed of running a bookstore. I sent Katie a gushing email expressing my love for the store and my childhood dream of becoming the next Kathleen Kelly. Luckily, she didn’t think I was crazy, and we met a year ago to discuss the possibility of me quitting my corporate job and joining The Bookshelf staff. It’s by far the riskiest (maybe the most vulnerable) thing I’ve ever done, and I don’t regret it, not even a little bit.
AJ: I loved the Tallahassee store and could have happily stayed there -- Tallahassee is my hometown -- but it wasn’t meant to be. Katie decided to focus her efforts in Thomasville, and I respected that, and I wanted to help her in any way I could. When she mentioned selling the Thomasville store, though, my heart broke that someone might buy it and not love it the way Katie so obviously does. Our wheels began turning to see how we could join forces and continue The Bookshelf’s legacy in Thomasville. I never dreamed my stint as a bookstore manager would so quickly become an opportunity for ownership, and I feel like. I’m constantly taking leaps of faith I never had to take at my desk job, but Katie and Scott’s passion for the community and for the store itself make me hopeful I can do this. I want to build on the foundation they so lovingly set.
BB: What started you talking about buying/selling?
BB: How did you know Annie was a good fit for store owner?
KC: Our family had way too much going on-- my husband
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t h a n k s
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