Townie Issue #8

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may 1 - 14

Billy Crystal & the Thomasville Girl: Meet Megan Ferguson Thomasville-bred actress and comedienne Megan Ferguson has not let her fame lift her feet off the ground.

Due any day now with her first child, she calmly assured me that nothing was happening this particular Sunday except for a little baby shopping at Target. “There’s an endless buy list,” she laughed.

Ferguson is busier than she lets on. She stars in a new sitcom by writer and executive producer Larry Charles, The Comedians, alongside Josh Gad and comedic legend Billy Crystal. She will also appear in The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving, a film starring Paul Rudd and Selena Gomez, slated for a 2016 release.

Closer to home, Ferguson and her husband, actor Nico Evers-Swindell, are loyal Covey Film Festival Ambassadors.

A Thomasville native If you’re a Townie, you may already know that Ferguson has called Thomasville home since she was eight years old, when she and her parents, Sharon MaxwellFerguson and Howell Lykes Ferguson, hopped north from Tallahassee.

“I remember being slightly devastated when we moved," she quipped, "because my parents weren’t that interested in driving me to the Governor’s Square Mall anymore.”

“I quickly fell in love with Thomasville," she added. "I got my first job at Firefly when I was 13. I loved working there and loved Nan [Myers]. She’s the epitome of a cool southern girl.”

Ferguson said her start in Thomasville has a great deal to do with who she is as an adult and a professional.

“Thomasville is a creative, ahead-of-the-curve community. It set a wonderful mold for being brave and entrepreneurial and making [my] own creative vision happen.”

And she continues to make milestones in Thomasville: she and her husband were married at her parents’ home, Boxhall, in 2011, and they hope to return in October with their firstborn for the Covey Film Festival.

“There’s a wonderful, supportive, creative culture [here],” she said. “I’ll talk about Thomasville to anyone who will listen.”

The comedienne meets The Comedians With a resume that lists roles in The Hart of Dixie, Boardwalk Empire, Mad Men and other successful TV and movie productions, Ferguson described her fulfilled ambition to appear as a series regular on a comedy show. “It was an incredible, one of those goals-come-true experiences," she says.

The actress’ new sitcom, The Comedians, is a meta-comedy with actors Billy Crystal and Josh Gad playing slightly more neurotic, egocentric versions of themselves in a fictional sitcom for FX. It’s a show within a show, á la 30 Rock, done documentary-style, á la The Office. Ferguson plays Esme, the fictional show’s rude, apathetic production assistant.

...continued, page two.

Steak & Burgers for a Cause With summer just around the corner, Townies near and far will be firing up their charcoal grills.

What better way to kick off the season than a juicy hamburger? Join The Marguerite Neel Williams Boys and Girls Clubs of Southwest Georgia for their 12th Annual Steak & Burger Dinner on Thursday, May 7th at 6:30p in the club’s gym at 219 Fletcher Street.

This is their largest fundraiser of the year, hosting up to 300 people and incorporating a fun twist by way of a ‘role reversal,’ allowing Boys and Girls Club members to dine on steaks while adults enjoy the burgers. Community leaders and local business folk can be found among the attendees.

Throughout the evening, guests will be entertained by the words of former Atlanta Falcons Football Club President, hunter, fisherman and Thomasville resident, Mr. Rankin Smith, have an opportunity to spend time

with boys and girls from our community, and participate in a live auction.

Behind the night’s many festivities is a great story and an even better cause. The club serves youth ages 6-18 with three locations in Thomas and Grady counties.

By providing after school activities in a safe place with structured programs, the club’s mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

All proceeds from the dinner will go directly towards benefiting this dedicated organization. Sponsorship levels begin at $250. You may also donate an auction item. Sponsors will be seated with club members and receive a highlight in the promotional materials. For more information, visit www.mnw-bgc.org, call 2285176 or email info@mnw-bgc.org.

- Chaise B.

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Whispers.

CHUMS

Psst... the finishing touches are being put to the

Terry Howell

new Relish...more in next issue...

Terry Howell is a fifth grade teacher at Brookwood School. He is also a former officer in the U.S. Navy and was CEO of a home improvement company that eventually became one of the top 100 private companies in the U.S. He is a dad of three near-adults.

Tell us about your family. I've been married to my wife, Jan, for 27 years, [and] she is the better 90% of me. She and I have three children: Ethan {who is now married to my daughter-in-law, Meagan}, Olivia, and Aaron.

Was it easy to go from CEO to 5th grade teacher? Changing from CEO to a 5th grade teacher in a lot of ways was really easy for me. I have always believed that no matter what you do, you always do your best. As a result, it was simply more of a change in environment than a change in focus. I do laugh sometimes, though, when I tell people how much my lunch menu and [work] environment have changed.

The Center for the Arts has their summer camp listings up...visit them online to register...

Landmarks' Derby Party is at the Train Depot this year...get your hats at Mimi's...

What is the hardest thing about teaching? I think we all take for granted when it's easy to learn something. When you're working with a child who has a difficult time learning something but is really trying, it's hard to see them struggle through that until they realize, 'Hey, give myself some time and I'll get this.'

What is your funniest memory of teaching? This may be your hardest question, in that I have had so many treasured memories teaching. I did laugh really hard this year {to myself of course}, when on a rainy day I overheard some kids playing Apples to Apples during inside recess. The conversation went like this as they looked at their cards: "I have a famous country and western singer. It is Shania Twain." Another student quickly responded: " I must have her husband. I have Mark Twain!"

-Sam W.

Speaking of the Train Depot...there's a new restaurant in town...with lots of SASS...

Got a tip? E-mail yourtownie@gmail.com

, Holy Mole: Cinco de Mayo at Liam's It's possible that I am more excited about the Liam’s Cinco de Mayo dinner than the average Joe {er, Jose}. I absolutely love tequila, Mexican street fare and small plates—all of which Liam’s will be focusing on for its Cinco de Mayo dinner.

you may not see any tacos on their menu.

“It will be recognizable but with classic and true flavors of Mexico,” says Foster.

Although Cinco de Mayo falls on a Tuesday, a day Liam’s isn’t usually open, they will be opening their doors for we revelers.

They’ve brought in special tequilas for the cocktail menu which Rhonda Foster, co-owner, will mix up for the evening. A variety of drinks will be served, including Michelada and charred pineapple punch and a tequila flight. Selections for the cocktail menu will include Frida Kahlo Collection tequila as well as some surprises.

Scott Foster, co-owner of Liam’s, explains that this is not going to be a tasting menu, but a menu comprised of all small plates great for sharing, mixing and matching.

They are not, however, pre-releasing the menu before the event.

Scott and Chef Tyler Bailey were inspired by food offered by authentic Mexican dive restaurants where they dined and learned some tricks for their Cinco de Mayo evening. They even prepared their own masa from scratch: nothing too predictable, but with a few items you’ll know. In other words,

t h a n k s

t o

TRADITION. KNOWLEDGE. VISION.

“We want [the menu] to be understated but to blow people away. You have to trust the restaurant,” he adds.

Reservations are not required, but to ensure your place at this special night you may want to go ahead and save your seat at the table. Dinner starts at 5:30p. For more information or to make a reservation, call Liam’s at 226-9944.

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InsideOut Nation Offers Free, Big Music Event Invite your friends to share in a night of music, fellowship and teachings this Friday night {May 1} at the Thomasville Municipal Auditorium, hosted by InsideOut Nation.

Doors open at 6:15p for this free community event. The hours between seven and nine will feature musicians and worship leaders Dana Hayes King, Shawn Walden, Bryan Watt, Bree Brown, Anna Benton, Justin Quigg and Armando Jesus. Just over one hundred volunteers including a half a dozen guest speakers, pastors, and community leaders, a handful of musicians and a gospel choir will unite under one roof for one night to share in God’s word.

Our Staff Publisher + Editor in Chief Jennifer Westfield

InsideOut Nation began six years ago as passion project by Tommy Williams and Bryan Watt. They were inspired by

Social Media Dara Barwick Denise Purvis

Giving at home As ambassadors for the annual Covey Film Festival, Ferguson and her husband, Nico Evers-Swindell {Kenneth on NBC’s Grimm}, take part in supporting independent films, and filmmakers focused on nature, community and caring– qualities that represent the region’s conservation efforts; “I’d describe her in a word as unmotivated,” Ferguson said. all Covey proceeds benefit the Thomasville Community “She is very unimpressed with the very impressive people Resource Center. around her.” “[The film festival] is another great example of Thomasville But Ferguson admitted to feeling the converse in working embracing its own creative talents and connecting to the with such big figures in the comedy world. “It’s definitely larger creative community,” Ferguson said. “My husband challenging,” she said, “just trying not to be intimidated by and I came to the inaugural one two years ago, and we’re who I was in a scene with. And to pinch myself when Billy hoping to come back with a little-bitty baby in October.”

Crystal said hello to me because he knew who I was and had a part in getting me there.”

At the 2016 Covey Film Festival, you will have the chance to see Ferguson in her next feature film, The Revised “It’s a largely improv show," she added, "so you’ve got to Fundamentals of Caregiving. She plays Peaches, a woman on really jump in the water – and it was deep water. But I’m so the verge of giving birth. excited to be a part of it.”

“It was convenient," she said. "I only had to wear a bump While she is surrounded by comedy on the set, work is not over my bump. I give birth in the movie - spoiler alert - so all fun and games. “It can be very serious at times because I’m meant to be in the last days” of pregnancy. [the producers] want to make the best possible show. You can do one take, and it can be really funny, but they want In mere days, Ferguson will give birth to she and her you to do five to ten more really funny ones so that they husband’s first child – off screen, of course. have the best possible options to pick from. The bar is set very high.”

Her character, Esme, might just be her polar opposite: a flippant office aid who gives coffee orders rather than taking them (“Dirty chi, whatever cookie looks good. No nuts.

I’m not allergic; I just hate them”). Esme can put a flirting co-worker in his place with one disgusted roll of the eyes.

Contributing Writers Chaise Bishop Clay Byars Benjamin Gardner Didi Hoffman Annie Jones Natalie Kirbo Emily McKenna Denise Purvis Amanda Smith Nadia Watts Sam Watts Jennifer Westfield Contributing Artists Catharine Fennell William Hamil Advertising Design Katie Reeves Distribution Devae Duncan Copy Editor Debbie Quinton

It was quite the surprise that Earl was no Earl at all. The most logical progression would have been to just name the cat Earlene, but seriously, who names a cat Earlene? Then Cinco de Mayo is here, and it’s not notable just because again, who names a cat Amasha? No one, because I made I like tequila and tamales. The holiday brings about an that name up myself after struggling to pick a name for even bigger landmark in my small universe this year: the her. I decided I would string a bunch of letters together fifteenth birthday of my oldest pet {yes, as if she were my that I liked doodling. TA-DA! child, I referred to her as my “oldest”}, Amasha. You may laugh at my lunacy for keeping track of my pets’ {yes, You’re probably thinking, “Denise, it’s a cat.” THIS IS plural since I have both an “oldest” and “youngest” and NOT JUST SOME CAT. This cat has lived with me at two in between} birthdays, but Amasha is a special gal in each of my residences, dealt with my youthful partying my life. in undergrad, struggled with me through law school, and watched me go through every single emotion and life I was just a naive 20-year old when I got Amasha. I benchmark imaginable. In a lot of ways, this cat has been was convinced that I needed a pet at my first apartment a mainstay in my life. I think about her getting older, and away from home, so I was excited to hear that my friend it makes me sad. The average life expectancy of an indoor Caroline’s cat was having kittens. Amasha was the only cat is 13-17 years but some live 20+ years. She’s somewhere orange cat out of a mostly black and gray litter. Orange in that scary gray area. cats are insane, and I am naturally attracted to the insane, so I had to have her. At the time, I did not realize that this I can’t bear to imagine my life without her. I am going to cat was actually female, so she was dubbed “Earl” after her need this cat to be alive when I “finally get it together,” so father Merle. she can see that I am not a total spaz after all of this time.

She won’t believe it, and the disbelief that leads to a heart

Trill in the Ville

Georgia Press Association

The Thomasville Townie publishes the first and third Friday of every month. To advertise or suggest article ideas email yourtownie@gmail.com.

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Don't miss this opportunity for we Christians to gather and worship. The music will be amazing and the message moving. Look for the event on Facebook and Twitter, www.insideoutnation.com, or just go to the Municipal Auditorium on Friday night!

- Clay B.

With a distribution of 2,000 issues in over fifty retail outlets and paper boxes around the ‘Ville, the Townie is a great way to reach new potential customers. Our readers love to support all things Thomasville... including your business.Email us today for more information.

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Talking more about returning home for the film fest, Ferguson continued with her funny bone: “I will find out how bad my acting was,” she laughed. “I’ll find out whether I need to do some reshoots.”

As for her current character, Esme, on a visit to Thomasville: “[she] would be hot,” Ferguson said. “She would need to be in Grassroots, next to a plug, drinking an iced coffee, on her iPhone.”

Now, that’s a picture.

- Nadia W.

The Comedians airs on FX Thursdays at 10p. Catch Ferguson's husband, Nico Evers-Swindell, on NBC’s Grimm, Fridays at 8p.

Clockwise from left: Ferguson and husband Nico in Thomasville; the couple on their wedding day at Boxhall; Ferguson and The Comedians cast at the show's red carpet premeire.

attack will be what probably does her in. She’s a pain in the butt sometimes, but who isn’t, really? I’ve loved her all the same through all of our struggles.

So, maybe she hasn’t ever learned to cover her poop in the litter box after 15 years, and she scratches the wall, hot water heater, door, or anything but the actual litter instead of covering it up. It doesn’t even matter that she meows mercilessly every single morning outside of my door from 4-5 AM demanding fresh water in her bowl. Her annoying habit of screaming in your face if you have string cheese or even stealing it out of your hand is even tolerable once you realize that she has a gentle soul. I even endured a period of time discovering what she was allergic to when all of her belly hair fell out. {Trust me, you do NOT want to see what an aging cat’s stomach looks like without fur.} Please feel free to wish her a happy birthday. She does not require gifts but prefers string cheese, spaghetti noodles al dente, freshly changed water and finely chopped chicken.

- Denise P.

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Calling all kiddos! TCA offers camps in theater, dance, music, poetry and more!

The first event was called Become One and quickly evolved into a thriving ministry and outreach for surrounding communities. During 2013 and 2014 the group partnered with Passion Conferences and traveled to different gatherings in Tallahassee, Albany, Bainbridge, Cairo and Lynchburg, Virginia. After a hectic schedule, says Watt, “we decided to rebrand the event as InsideOut Nation Collective.” Watt says,

“the name is a better fit for the event, since a collective is a group of people gathered for a single cause.”

The weekend will also include a community wide service project called “Project Backyard” beginning at 9:30 in the morning on Saturday, May 2, followed by more music and teaching at Grassroots Coffee starting at 8:00p; there will be free beverages for the first 100 people.

Megan Ferguson, continued...

Columnists J. David Bray, Jr. Sarah Esra Denise Purvis Kelly Samek

for

Ezekiel 36 and 37 that told the story of God’s people who were reunited to become one nation. InsideOut Nation is a nonprofit ministry that exists to ignite PASSION for the name of Jesus, promote UNDERSTANDING of who we are in Christ and what defines us as Christians, and cultivate UNITY among believers.

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Beauty Broad Will meditation make you younger? The answer is yes and here’s why. Meditation reverses the stress response and will protect you from its negative effects. Stress is the number one cause of aging. It increases inflammation in the body, which leads to a host of diseases on the inside. The outside suffers as well with noticeable puffiness, dark circles, and tired and dull looking skin. Stress will always be a part of lives in some form or another but how we choose to manage it will profoundly affect the quality of life.

There are many misconceptions surrounding meditation that may make you reluctant to start. Or maybe you've tried it a few times and felt like you were not doing it correctly so opted for a glass of wine instead! The truth is it is really very simple and anyone can master the technique.

The harder part is making it a habit and part of your daily routine. However, once you begin to see the benefits you’ll never look back.

First, you do not need to dedicate an hour a day. 15 minutes morning and night is ideal, but if you have 5-10 go for it.

Also, don’t worry about having thoughts or trying to manage them. This discourages many people and it shouldn’t. It does not mean you are doing anything wrong because it is very normal! Embrace them and let them stay or go. It doesn’t matter and will not decrease the effectiveness of your practice.

There are many “right” ways to meditate. You may need to experiment a few times to see which one resonates with you.

I like to incorporate simple breathing techniques because it allows me to focus on something other than my thoughts.

Here is a simple way to begin: Set your timer for 5-15 minutes. Sit comfortably with hands on your lap and close your eyes. Breathe normally and begin to follow your breath as it goes in through your nose and out through your nose. Don’t inhale or exhale too deeply, just make it light and relaxed. Bring your awareness to your breath. Thoughts will probably begin to pop up.

Notice them and then bring your attention back to the lightness of your breath going in and out. If they become distracting, you can silently repeat a sound or a word in your mind to redirect your attention. Examples of these are “Om” or “So Hum.” You can also repeat a word like “love” or “I am.” Continue just like this until the end of your session.

Farm to Table: Delight!

It will not be perfect every time and is not supposed to be. You may notice a few moments of silence and deep relaxation at first, but these will increase the more you do it.

Peanut Butter Pie with Pretzel Crust I was late to reach an appreciation for the combo of sweet and salty. Being one of those kids that preferred the food on my plate not to touch, that isn’t surprising.

If I didn’t care to combine a morsel of turkey with a bite of mashed potato, naturally I was reluctant for M&Ms to consort with peanuts. Eventually I would see the light: to say I have enjoyed the rise of salted caramel is putting it mildly, and rich, dense chocolate truffle cake is now all the better served with a generous pinch of a flaky artisanal salt. But can there be any better canvas for the yin and yang of sugar and salt than peanut butter?

Here, the classic flavors of a creamy peanut butter pie filling are given an extra salty-sweet punch with a crunchy pretzelbased crust.

Pretzel Crust 1 1/2 cups crushed pretzels

1/2 cup Sparkman's Cream Valley butter—Lewis Produce 1/3 cup light brown sugar Preheat oven to 375°F. Melt butter. Place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until a crumbly, nearly uniform mixture forms.

Press the mixture into a pie plate, using the bottom of a glass to compact the base and create steep sides. Bake for eight minutes. Cool completely before filling.

Peanut Butter Pie Filling 1 cup creamy peanut butter 1 cup Original Lil’ Moo cheese spread—Sweet Grass Dairy Cheese Shop 1/3 cup light brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon almond extract 2/3 cup and 1 tablespoon powdered sugar 1 cup whipping cream Preheat oven to 375°F. Using an electric handheld or stand mixer, whip together the peanut but-

ter and Lil’ Moo cheese spread. {Cream cheese or American-style Neufchâtel can be used in place of the Lil’ Moo if you prefer.} Cream brown sugar into the mixture. Add in the extracts. Sift in 2/3 cup of powdered sugar and mix thoroughly.

In a separate bowl, whip the cream with the remaining tablespoon of powdered sugar until stiff peaks form, being careful not to overbeat. Gently fold whipped cream into the peanut butter mixture until completely combined.

Place mixture into the prepared crust; smooth and level with an offset spatula. Refrigerate for at least four hours—and preferably overnight—before slicing.

One of my favorite books is Perfect Health by Deepak Chopra. In it he says “As you gain experience with meditation, you’ll begin to feel the reappearance of youthful energy and vitality that is being released from a deeper level of the nervous system. This is a very profound change and the real fountain of youth.”

So begin your meditation practice with small steps. Five minutes a day is all it takes!

- Sarah Esra is the Townie's resident goddess

If desired, serve with whipped cream, a drizzle of chocolate syrup, or a sprinkling of crushed honey-roasted peanuts.

- Kelly S.

Early Morning Silhouette by William Hamil

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Scoop: Great Southern music fest The Great Southern Music Festival began the same way most really great southern things begin – organically and with a good story. Great Southern Music Festival founder Pat Tillman, son of fiddle player Max Tillman, grew up in a bluegrass loving, musical family. Picking nights are a standard in bluegrass culture but Max added a twist. He invited the friends he had met during his travels around the world to Thomasville for two picking events. Pat continued the tradition when his friends, mostly sons of local musicians, began meeting for weekly picking nights at his home in Ochlocknee. Their weekly tradition grew in size until 2002 when the first official Great Southern Music Festival was held at what had become known as Pickers Paradise Pond on Pat’s property.

For the last 11 years, hundreds of people from near and far have gathered biannually at Pickers Paradise Pond to enjoy a great lineup of bluegrass and Newgrass bands. Pat describes the atmosphere of the event as “the gathering of one big happy family.” There are 125 RV hook ups available by reservation. In addition to enjoying music you are invited to fish in the pond, walk the multiple trails, eat “some of the best bar-b-que around, bar-none,” according to Pat, and shop the craft tents.

Bring your instrument. Bring your kids. Bring your dog. You and yours are invited to become a part of the big happy family. The festival is May 7-9.

Thursday night is a fish fry and open stage where all musicians are welcome to play. Bands play from 1-10p on Friday and Saturday. Saturday morning there will be multiple music workshops you can attend. Day Passes are available for $5-$15 and Weekend Passes are $30. Check the website for all the details, to purchase tickets, and to reserve an RV hookup. www.pickersparadisepark.com See you there!

- Emily M.

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May 1

May 1 - 3

Anne of Green Gables TOSAC Storefront Theater, 117 South Broad Street, 8p on Friday and Saturday, 2p Sunday.

TOSAC brings you a beloved classic, in its last weekend. www.tosac.com.

May 2

Landmarks Society Kentucky Derby Party Historic Train Depot, 420 West Jackson Street, 5:30-11p, $125 VIP Dinner and Dance/$45 Advance Dance/$55 Dance Tickets at Door.

Join Thomasville Landmarks, Inc. for the annual Derby Party. www.thomasvillelandmarks.org.

Independent Bookstore Day The Bookshelf, 126 South Broad Street, 10a-8p.

Celebrate & support your favorite independent bookstore. For more information, contact Annie at 228-7767 or annie@bookshelfthomasville.com.

3rd Annual Paint-a-Pot for Mother's Day Thomasville Nursery, 5545 US Highway 319 South, 10a-3p.What’s better than a hand painted gift for mom on Mother’s Day? Bring your kids and your creativity! Open tours of the Nursery and a bounce house will also be available. More information at 236-4617 or john@newhiresolutions.net.

May 5

Cinco de Mayo at Liam’s Liam's of Thomasville, 113 East Jackson Street, 5 p.

Liam’s chefs will be offering a made-from-scratch Mexican small plate menu based on traditional street food. Call 226-9944.

May 7

12th Annual Steak & Burger Dinner MNW Boys & Girls Club of Southwest Georgia, 219 Fletcher Street, 6:30p. Table sponsorships start at $250. Live and silent auctions. Guest speaker Rankin Smith, former president of the Atlanta Falcons football club. Call 228-5155.

May 8

Spring Show: Thomasville Music & Drama Troupe Thomasville Municipal Auditorium, 144 East Jackson Street, 8p, Tickets: $20/adults, $10/ students. A group of talented singing teen entertainers from area high schools across southwest Georgia. Call Gina Wise at 221-9576.

May 8 - 9

Great Southern Music Festival: Spring Festival Pickers Paradise Park, 2217 Maddox Road, Ochlocknee, GA, 10a - 10p, $15 day pass or $30 weekend pass. A weekend of legendary music and BBQ this Mother’s Day weekend! Concessions on grounds, pets on leash only, bring your own lawn chair. Featuring: Special Consensus, The Kenny Hill Band, Bottom Dollar Boys and more. www.pickersparadisepark.com.

67 Soybean 68 Knot

April became one of the busiest months at The Bookshelf. I did manage to fit in seven books this month: five fiction {including one boasting over 700 pages!} and two nonfiction. A few would make great book club picks, some you’ve probably heard about already, and at least one deserves to be picked up today.

(2 wds.)

14 15 16 2 Evils sound 3 Horse's walking DOWN 17 18 19 A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. Bookseller confession: I never 1 Syllables used4in___! songs (call read attention) The Goldfinch. So many customers felt ambivalent about last 20 21 22 23 24 {2 wds.} year’s Pulitzer Prize winner; I decided to forgo it for another book by 5 Riptide 2 Evils the same author. {The Secret History, which I really enjoyed.} A Little 25 26 TOSAC word 6 3 Horse's walking sound Life is just over 700 pages, but it kept coming across my social media 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 7 So we seewanderings - NPR reviews, blog posts, podcasts - so I decided to give 4 ___! {call attention} it a try. I’m so glad I did. The book covers the friendships of four 5 Riptide 34 35 36 37 8 Grain men, from their college years into their mid-40s. Although the book 6 TOSAC word Enzyme is a testament to male friendship, it’s also about heartbreak, trauma, 9 38 39 40 41 7 So we see game abuse and neglect. A Little Life is heavy, but important, and 10 Computertragedy, 8 Grain 42 43 44 if 9 Enzyme 11 Thin strandyou’ve got the stomach for it, I can’t recommend it enough. Grab me in the store, and I’ll tell you if it’s right for you.

45 46 47 48 10 Computer12 game Lazy 11 Thin strand

by Alexander McCall Smith. I can’t believe I had never 49 50 13 Depend Emma 12 Lazy heard of The Austen Project, so allow me to enlighten you, as well. The 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 13 Depend 22 "To the right!" new series of six novels pairs bestselling authors with Jane Austen’s six complete works. Sense and Sensibility and Northanger Abbey were released 22 "To the right!" (abbr.)

24 Incorporated 58 59 60 61 62 last year, and now, bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith has 24 Incorporated {abbr.} 25 Ticket cost thrown his hat into the ring with his modern-day version of Emma.

25 Ticket cost 63 64 65 College (abbr.)

27 I won’t touch anything that combines Austen with zombies, but I 27 College {abbr.} 66 67 68 have watched {and loved} both The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and Emma 28 Explanation 28 Explanation 29 Equate 29 Equate Approved – so this rendition didn’t bother me in the least. I found www.CrosswordWeaver.com it utterly enjoyable, and I would imagine most of you would, too.

30 Nothingness Emma has never been my favorite heroine, but Smith handles her 38 Lopsided 30 Nothingness ACROSS 31 Has Multitude 40 ACROSS with grace and does her justice. Pack it in your beach bag.

39 Yang's partner 1 Sheer, triangular scarf 31 Has 32 Hanging knot 40 Multitude 42 Mold 6 Halt 33 Offers 32 Hanging knot Searching for Sunday by Rachel Held Evans. Those of you who hangman's 10 1Matching Sheer, triangular scarf 42 Mold 43 Cincinnati baseball team travel in evangelical circles, or stay up-to-date on Christian writers 35 Colorer rope 43 Cincinnati baseball team 14 Ethan that led the Green and debates, will probably have heard of Rachel Held Evans. I’ve 37 Fewer Comforts 44 6 Halt 44 Comforts Mountain Boys Offers 33 been reading her blog for years, and I think Searching for Sunday is her 40 Charging Matching 45 Marksmen 45 Marksmen 1510Where the whale is 41 File 35 Colorer best book thus far. It offers a personal look at Evans’ struggles with 48 Preoccupy 1614Assistant Ethan that led the Green 48 Preoccupy church and faith, but her stories have universal appeal. {I found much 43 Whys 37 Fewer 49 Body of water 17 Architect Frank __ Wright of myself in the pages of Searching for Sunday.} I devoured the book Mountain Boys 49 Body of water 46 Chemical compound Charging 40 50 Gag one afternoon on my porch swing; it felt so good to hear someone 18 Coupe 47 Kitten Gag Where the whale is 50 15 give voice to my own concerns. The book is smartly divided into 51 Grassroots abbreviated 19 Island 41 File 48 French "yes" chapters based on the sacraments, and my favorite truths were found Assistant Grassroots abbreviated 51 16 54 At Al Dixon you can get 20 Poisonous snake 50 Allotment43 Whys in the chapter reflecting on baptism. your first 54 or your 2117Omelette ingredient Architect Frank __ Atlast Al Dixon you can 51 get Joyous 46 Chemical compound 55 Blue colored bird 23 Inclined A Window Opens by Elisabeth Egan. This was my advanced 52 Traveled by car Wright your first or your last 58 Threaten 25 No cost Kitten 47 reader copy of the month. If you’re like me, and keep a list of Coupe 55 Blue colored bird 53 Seep 59 Tub spread 2618Compass point what to read next, go ahead and write this one down. The book 54 Pretty 48 French "yes" 61 Effigy58 Threaten 2719Remove by surgery Island 55 Coffee 50 Allotment is a debut novel by magazine writer Elizabeth Egan. It's light 63 Tool 3020Venting verbally in parts, but it's heartfelt and funny, too; rarely have I found Poisonous snake 59 Tub spread 56 Seaweed substance 51 Joyous a book that makes me laugh, cry and cringe all within the same 64 Coming 34 Egyptian capital 57 Scream Effigy Omelette ingredient 61to do 65 Having with the Navy few car pages. It's Big Little Lies meets Where’d You Go Bernadette, with 3521Goose feathers down under 52 Traveled by 60 MGM's Lion Tool Inclined a little of Dave Eggers' The Circle thrown in the mix. If any or all 66 Stag 63 3623Fat 62 Staff 53 Seep of those books appealed to you, this one will be worth reading.

64 Coming 25 No cost 54 Pretty 65 Having to do with the 26 Compass point Astonish Me by Maggie Shipstead. Do you ever discover a book 55 Coffee don't miss the derby party. This year, Landmarks' 23rd Annual Kentucky Derby you’ve been meaning to read for ages hiding on your shelf ? The navy 27 Remove by surgery Party Fundraiser is at the Historic Thomasville Train Depot. Part one, the Derby Seaweed hardback substance 56 Dinner, of Astonish Me has been on my nightstand for months, Stag verbally 66 30 Venting runs from 4p - 8p, and will feature bluegrass by The Kenny Hill Band and dinner The Scream and for some reason, I just never could pull the trigger. I’d read 57 by Sweet and Savory Sisters {the 'Ville's newest restaurant}. The Derby Dance begins at 8p, capital 67 Soybean 34 Egyptian Shipstead’s first novel, Seating Arrangments, when it debuted, and I MGM's Lion 60juleps featuring a pop-up gallery by TCA Artist-in-Residence Denise Boineau, mint and enjoyed it. I think the book’s subject matter – ballet – deterred me, 68 Knot 35 Goose feathers down 62 Staff music by Tanner's Lane. VIP Tickets include Dinner and Dance for $125. Dance tickets but what a mistake! Astonish Me is even better than Seating Arrangments, under are $55 at the door and sponsorships including perks for two start at $300. Need a hat? Of with a clever plot that propels forward at the perfect pace.

DOWN 36 Fat course you do! Mimi's has them. www.thomasvillelandmarks.org.

Where They Found Her by Kimberly McCreight. A few years 38 Lopsided ago, I read Kimberly McCreigh’s Reconstructing Amelia in the span of a Submit your best short film to the first Covey Film used in songs partner student f ilmmakers: 1 Syllables 39 Yang'scalling few hours. I still recommend it to readers looking for a good suspense 1

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TOWNIE TIDBITS

First Friday: Paper Bird Downtown Thomasville, 7-9p, free Bring your lawn chair and enjoy the show!

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FACEBOOK.COM/THOMASVILLE.TOWNIE

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Festival Short Film Competition. Winners receive money, prizes and of course, a screening of your winning film during the Covey Film Festival. There are two categories – High School and College. Requirements and forms are available at www.coveyfilmfestival.com. the chamber welcomes new members: Andy’s Place, Metta Day Spa, Accounting Associates of Thomasville, The Pink Valise Boutique, Big Oak Physical Therapy, Flourish of Thomasville, Rainbow Pediatrics Associates, P.C., Saint Mark AME Church, Snipes Painting & Remolding, LLC, DMM Consulting Company, and Murphy USA.

May 12

Feast & Fete Liam's of Thomasville, 113 East Jackson Street, 7p, $100pp. Liam’s and South Georgia Ballet bring you a dining experience suited for Thomasville’s finest! This 4-course paired meal features delicious entrees and complimentary beverages. http://www. southgeorgiaballet.org/ or call 229-221-9420.

Photography by Catharine Fennell

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novel. Her latest doesn’t, in my opinion, pack quite the punch of her first, but I think I may be coming off a Girl on the Train-inspired high.

Like Girl on the Train, Where They Found Her is narrated by a variety of different women; the narration just isn’t as effective or as chilling as Girl on the Train, but McCreigh’s novel is still one you’ll want to move through in just a few sittings.

So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson. The cover on this one is fantastic, but what's inside is even more fascinating. Ronson – who you’ll recognize from his previous book The Psychopath Test, plus dozens of NPR stories – covers shaming and public humiliation in the modern world; how we’ve moved from stakes and stocks to deriding and punishing people through social media. I recognized many of the subjects and was already familiar with several of their stories: Mike Daisey, Justine Sacco, Jonah Lehrer. These are semipublic figures whose missteps cost them their careers and livelihoods after the public called out their faults on Twitter and Facebook.

Ronson brings to light what a strange, technology-driven world we’re living in, and, although he isn’t always my favorite narrator, his book is utterly entertaining and interesting. This would be great for book clubs, and I suspect you’ll start hearing more and more about it after a feature in the New York Times. It's well worth a read.

See you in the ‘Shop Annie