Townie #15, 2015

www.yourtownie.com

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Issue No.

september 4 - 17

Blush Salon Presents a Childhood Cancer Cut-a-Thon September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month. Every September, you will notice gold bows popping up all over Thomasville, united for one purpose: to find a cure for childhood cancer. For their part in contributing for a cure for childhood cancer, Blush Salon, located at 1482 West Jackson Street, will hold its first annual Childhood Cancer Cut-aThon on September 19.

The event, which will run from 9a - 12p, will raise money for Alex’s Lemonade Stand by giving haircuts, blowouts, express mani/pedis, eyebrow waxing and 10-minute chair massages.

Customers will not need appointments for these services and may drop in at any point during the day. Each service will be 30 minutes' time maximum per person. Blush will donate 100% of the proceeds to find a cure for childhood cancer by benefitting Alex’s Lemonade Stand.

“We usually do an event each year to give back to the community. This year we wanted to raise money for the kids.

[Alex’s Lemonade Stand] is a great organization to work with,” said Laura Harper, salon owner.

Since 2000, Alex’s Lemonade Stand has raised over $1 million to find a cure for childhood cancer.

The mission of Alex’s Lemonade Stand is to raise money and awareness of childhood cancer causes, primarily research into new treatments and cures and to encourage and empower others, especially children, to get involved and make a difference for children with cancer.

Blush is also selling those famous gold bows to raise money for CURE, another organization dedicated to curing childhood cancer. CURE Childhood Cancer is dedicated to conquering childhood cancer through funding targeted research and through support of patients and their families.

For more information about Alex’s Lemonade Stand, please visit http://www.alexslemonade.org/. For more information about CURE, please visit http://www.curechildhoodcancer. org/. For more information about Blush’s Salon Cut- a-Thon, call Blush Salon at 236-5500 or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/blushsalonandspathomasville.

— Denise P.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand is a well-known organization that was originally founded by a four-year-old girl, Alex Scott, who wanted to raise money for a cure for childhood cancer.

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15

september 4 - 17

Whispers

CHUMS CHUMS Scott Chastain

Psssst.... What's this we hear about a Treat Station coming to Jackson Street?

So.Ho. Restaurant opens downtown this winter... offering southern food with an Asian flare...

New advertisers...we're looking for you. Mention this whisper and receive 10% off a new ad contract.

Live Young Studio will soon be offering Black Fig takeout items. Read the latest fitness tips and trends from fab LYS owner Kate inside...

Our FLAUNT 2015: Rock On! publication is out today... in it you'll find all of t he events of t he month and the artists behind the murals that are going up now...

Scott and his wife Katie are two of Thomasville’s most fun, creative thinkers. They are the former owners of our beloved Bookshelf and current owners of the superhero cape making company Everfan. You can catch him enjoying Thomasville his favorite way….walking the streets of downtown with Katie and their two girls.

What superhero power do you wish you had?

Teleporting. I hate driving.

Why is Everfan's mission important to you?

Everfan isn't about superhero capes. It's about imagination.

Encouraging people to think beyond their current circumstances and to imagine a better world is powerful.

What is your favorite thing to play with your kids?

That's tough. I love building things with them using blocks or building forts with sheets. I also love to pretend with them, which turns into a lot of different things.

Before Everfan, you were a landscape architect.

As a landscape architect is there a place in Thomasville that catches your eye? I have always been interested in the Victoria Place neighborhood and helped get that redevelopment started. Also, Paradise Park could be an amazing place. I hope one day the city will give it the attention it deserves.

What is the most fun Thomasville event you have attended? I may be biased but several years ago The Bookshelf was part of the Unchained Tour. A ragtag group of professional storytellers and a few musicians had a concert upstairs. It wasn't a large event, but it was very unique.

What is your favorite Thomasville tradition? The parades. Living on Clay Street is a lot of fun on parade nights. All the floats line up around our house and the kids get so excited. Even though it's a small parade, it's fun to see the build— up.

Quoted in the Ville The 'Ville Hearts Hutch

— Emily M.

You need only drive a short distance in town to see that Bob "Hutch" Hutchison is loved by so many. "I HEART HUTCH" on Facebook and on the yard signs all over town are to support Hutch as he battles cancer. Signs are available from the staff at his State Farm office by calling 225-0585.

The Townie hearts you too, Hutch. We're praying for you! — Amanda S. "There have been so many blessing that have come out of this new journey that has come his way....I have had the most amazing memories people have shared of things they remembered my dad with.....a smile, a hug, a talk or speech...he has truly touched so many people... we are overwhelmed by the love and support the community has given us! I am so thankful that God chose him to be my dad! I am one lucky girl!" — Holli Hutchison Johnson

like hushpuppies?" — which i thought were shoes.

You are the kindest man I have ever known and all our family love you." — Dylys Roberts Clements

"Hutch is the one of the most kindhearted, community— minded, giving men I have ever met. It is impossible to be unhappy in his presence. i admire him both professionally and personally."

— Amy Maison

"Mr. Hutch, my family & I have had insurance with you at State Farm since the 1990's your family feels like my own family. You are definitely one of a kind!

No matter if its in the office or uptown you are always the same Hutch friendly, smiling, spunky, and full of life. We love you hope you get well soon!"

— Kelly Thomas

"Bob, you are one of the first friends I made in Thomasville and truly made The 'Ville home for us.

We love you!" — The Giemzas "We love you Hutch! You always bring a smile to the face of everyone you meet. Your unconditional love for everyone you meet is contagious!"

— Carolyn Brown Treadon "Hutch, you are always good for a smile, a kind deed, and a hug. Sending all those things back at you!"

— Angela Kiminas "Hutch, you are a true gentleman. You & Lynn were the first people we make friends with when we moved here. You both made us feel welcome and we learned a lot of news words like, "y'all" and "do you

"The Bauers love the Hutchison family! We hope in time, with God's blessings, you WILL do what you do best, being a great friend, a great announcer, and just a great person to be around. Love ya, Hutch!"

— Melanie Anne Bauer

"I love you Hutch! You are one of the first people to welcome me to Thomasville when I took over for the Red Cross and I appreciate your friendship so much!

God bless you." — Terry Duckett Jenkins "I met Hutch when I attended a VOOM meeting at the Chamber. He never failed at making me feel welcome! He can win anyone over with his one— of— kind smile and personality. It's so awesome seeing the community join together for him."

— Ali Harvey "Mr. Hutch, it always makes my day when I see you or your family. You are so warm, loving and sincere.

God bless you!" — Myrna Burton Groom

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F r e e

Don’t miss our weekly specials! www.mimisthelook.com

General, Cosmetic and Advanced Dentistry 303 W. Hansell Street • Thomasville 229-227-1447 www.aconfidentsmile.com

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"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” This is one of Hutch's favorite quotes which comes from Maya Angelou. I think It says a lot about who Hutch is as a person. He personifies light, life and love. And passes that onto anyone he meets." — Lauren Basford "If someone asked me to say something bad about Hutch I'd be lost for something to say. In the 28 years that my husband and I have had insurance with him I can't think of a bad experience with him or anyone in his office. He's a great guy and a friend to all no matter who you are! I know every time I walk into his office if he is there I'm in store for one of the biggest and best hugs in Thomasville. We love you Hutch! YOU'RE THE MAN! God has His arms wrapped around you!" — Dee Dee Wilson Sadler "Hutch is the man... he helps everyone like a good neighbor." — Brian Bauer "Hutch has a uniqueness like no other, the way he makes you laugh and smile. He brings life not just to a room but to a building!" — Billie Jo Beverly

t h a n k s

t o

TRADITION. KNOWLEDGE. VISION.

flaunt is here FLAUNT Rock On! is bringing back larger-than-life murals, but this time with a 70’s twist. This year's murals pay homage to 70’s rock icons and the competition has attracted over thirty regional artists.. The winner of the adult competition will receive $1000 and the youth, $750.

A public art installation created by students from Florida State University’s Public Art & Architectural Studio program will also be unveiled at the Opening Night Party. This project kicks off future public art collaborations between FSU and TCA, speared by FSU’s Director of Master Craftsman Kenn von Roenn and TCA’s Public Art Director Darlene Blackman.

FLAUNT’s second weekend brings rock ‘n’ roll to life with an Adult and Youth Battle of the Bands and a Rock On Photography Exhibition Opening Reception. Seven local photographers will compete for a Best in Show award of $1,000. The photography Opening Reception is followed by the Adult Battle of the Bands on September 17.

The celebration kicks off Friday, September 11 at the Opening Night Party, where all artist winners will be announced. Tickets are $30 and kids 12 & under are free. For tickets and more information about all the events in store, visit www.thomasvilleartsorg, call 226-0588 or pick up a copy of our FLAUNT special publication, on stands today!

t h e s e :

TRADITION. KNOWLEDGE. VISION.

CHUBB 106 West Jackson Street Downtown Thomasville

"Your big smile is always contagious and it always brightens my day to run into you. We all Heart Hutch and we are all praying for you!"

— Stephanie Fewell White

Assisting Real Estate Buyers and Sellers In Thomasville For Over 30 Years.

chubbrealty.com

The Plaza

REALTY

|

229.226.7916

401 E Jackson Street 229-226-3911

Steaks, Seafood & Southern Cuisine

to advertise, contact yourtownie@gmail.com

217 South Broad St., Thomasville (229) 226-5153

WWW.THOMASVILLEPLAZA.COM

Is Your Smile Ready for Life’s Special Occasions?

Thomas E. Oppenheim DMD • AFAACD 229-226-1631

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september 4 - 17

Ask a Counselor with Dusty Hart, founder of Kalon Christian Counseling

Our Staff Publisher + Editor in Chief Jennifer Westfield

When I asked Dusty if there was anything I should add to this Q & A, his answer was as follows, “Counseling can be one of the most important investments you can make for yourself and for those you love. Counseling is a process and is not a silver bullet. Results may come quickly but longterm change is going to take some time. Be willing to put in the necessary money, time and energ y to see the results you are hoping for. Like the Alcoholics Anonymous saying goes, ‘It works if you work it.’”

most prominent issues I address in individual counseling are anxiety and depression. The underlying cause of the anxiety and depression varies from current/past abuse or neglect, current/past relationship challenges, unresolved grief and loss, OCD, or addictions. I also work with married couples who want more out of their relationship and couples who are undergoing significant struggles, separation, or divorce.

(1) What influenced you to go into counseling?

(4) What would you recommend to a student who is experiencing self-image issues?

Since my teenage years I’ve always had an unusually high interest in relationships: particularly marital/family relationships. I think that interest was primarily influenced by growing up in a divorced home and feeling the need to “grow up” fairly young. Experiencing the pain of broken relationships set me on a journey to figure out what it takes to have successful relationships.

Social Media Dara Barwick Denise Purvis Columnists J. David Bray, Jr. Sarah Esra Denise Purvis Kelly Samek

(2) How did you decide on the name Kalon?

I first heard the word “kalon” while attending a sexuality seminar being led by Dr. Dan Allender, one of my heroes.

The word kalon literally means beauty or beautiful in Koine Greek, the language the New Testament of the Bible was originally written in. Kalon is the Greek word used in Gen 1 to describe the state of creation after God makes man and woman. Genesis 1:31 says, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good {kalon}. And there was evening, and there was morning-the sixth day.” In the context of Genesis 1, kalon extends beyond aesthetic beauty to include ethical and moral implications and points to our dignity as creatures made in the image of God.

Contributing Writers Dara Barwick Clay Byars Benjamin Gardner Kate Hunt Annie Jones Emily McKenna Denise Purvis Amanda Smith Jennifer Westfield

For me, the counseling process offers hope that there is something more. Kalon speaks of that something more, the beauty and wholeness that we are created and long for.

Contributing Artists Clay Byars Laura Nicole Floyd William Hamil

(3) What are some types of issues that you resolve in your line of counseling?

Self-image issues are very prominent among adolescents and can be quite complex. Gaining greater self- awareness and self- acceptance is absolutely essential to resolving any selfimage issues. One of the first steps toward resolve is getting real and honest with yourself about how you are thinking and feeling about the specific areas of struggle. What are the messages {possibly lies} and experiences that form the core of the cognitive and emotional distress? Once these are identified you can begin working on seeing and experiencing changes in those areas over time.

(5) What advice do you provide to couples planning on getting married?

Fasten your seat belts! You are in for the ride of your life.

Marriage can be a lot of fun when you are mentally and emotionally healthy. Marriage can also seem like hell when you aren’t. My main advice to anyone planning on getting married is to not go it alone. We all need help learning how to do the most important things in life, and marriage is no exception. Do not think that having a satisfying marriage comes easily or by accident. Be humble and be willing to get the help you need both individually and as a couple.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact Dusty at 234-7337, or email inquiries to kaloncounseling@gmail.com — Denise P.

I’m fairly eclectic in my work, and I address all sorts of mental/emotional health and relational issues. The two

Advertising Design Katie Reeves

Living Young with Kate

Be a Rockstar…Love your body!

One of my favorite icebreakers is to ask a group, “If you could be any member of the band, who would you be: Lead Singer, Bass Guitar, Drummer, Electric Guitar?” It is delightful to see people transport onto the stage and visualize what it would be to live the life of a rockstar. When I ask clients what they want out of physical therapy or their fitness regimen, most respond with a pessimistic and timid outlook of the reality of actually attaining their goals.

So how do we harness the power of positive thought to become a rockstar in living a healthy lifestyle?

1. Goals: Think big and little too. A recent study in the Journal of Applied Social Psycholog y reports that when participants set loftier weight loss goals-and reported greater confidence in their ability to achieve those goals-they dropped more pounds. But, there should always be a positive mindset in setting these goals. Instead of wanting to lose 30 pounds, tell yourself you want to be lean and strong. In order to maintain the larger goals, establish small, manageable ones. For example, increase your steps 100 steps each week or add something green to each meal. These mini-goals will keep you motivated for the long haul.

2. Pick a program that works for you. We invest time and coin into finding things that make our lives easier and more efficient. There is most likely an app for that! Why don’t we invest the same into our workout and nutrition regimens?

3. Focus on the positive. Negative thoughts will defeat you especially when they give you an excuse to fail: Negative Thought I can’t because I’m not flexible I only have 15 minutes today, so I might as well not work out I’m traveling, so I’ll start my diet next week Positive Affirmation This movement is temporarily unavailable I’m going to take the stairs today I will eat extra vegetables every meal

Layout Clay Byars

4. Thought creates! Visualize success. Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio found that just thinking about exercise helped maintain muscle strength in a group of study participants. They split 30 young adults into three groups and had them think as strongly as possible - for 15 minutes a day for three months - about either exercising their little finger muscle, their biceps muscle or neither. The finger group boosted that muscle’s strength by 53 percent, and the biceps group increased strength by 13.4 percent-and all with imaginary exercise!

Distribution Devae Duncan

Georgia Press Association

5. Invest in your body and spirit. Be a Tigger, not an Eeyore. According to a recent study in the Annals of Family Medicine, the death rate for men who considered themselves at lower risk for cardiovascular disease was one third lower than those who considered themselves at average risk. While positive thinking isn’t a replacement for healthy habits like eating a balanced, nutritious diet and working out regularly, the research certainly seems to indicate that happy thoughts are linked to happy-and healthy-results.

The Thomasville Townie publishes the first and third Friday of every month.

To advertise, suggest article ideas or contact staff members, please email yourtownie@gmail.com.

So, think happy thoughts, imagine the best you, love your body-Rock ON! — Kate Hunt holds a BS in Exercise Physiology, a Masters in Physical Therapy and is the owner of LiveYoung Studio in Thomasville, GA.

Printed by the Bainbridge Post—Searchlight 'wedding bells' by William Hamil {for eve and john}

Stand OU T from the Crowd!

branding / logo design / graphic design photography / video

Clay Byars

designer - creator - owner byarsclay@gmail.com 229 977-4615 tri-bstudio.com

We Care in so Many Ways

WE’RE MORE THAN A GYM WE’RE A CAUSE Give. Join. Volunteer. And So Much More.

THOMASVILLE YMCA www.ymca-thomasville.org 229.226.3446

Opening Night Party Friday, September 11th 6:30pm • Tickets $30 For tickets, visit

www.thomasvillearts.org

Forest Management • Timber Sales • Reforestation Prescribed Burning • Wildlife Management

to advertise, contact yourtownie@gmail.com

graphic design • marketing consulting branding & identity • promotional products event planning

Phone 229.403.1741 • ktcreative@me.com • www.ktcreative.net

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september 4 - 17

A Chat with The Townie

Farm to Table

Jerry Pionessa, City Engineer, City of Thomasville

Delight!

Key Lime Puffs

Engineer falls for the girl and the town.

TT: Jerry, it’s exciting to see the beginning of the 14 + mile bike and walk trail. What can you tell us about it?

JP: The trail will be such an asset to citizens and visitors. It will connect pedestrians and cyclists to many of our community’s parks, schools, recreation facilities, centers of employment and attractions.

TT: What’s the back story to how the trail plan came to be?

JP: A master plan was completed in 2009, then funding came from the 2012 SPLOST. It was in 2013 that funding actually began to flow. This is a large project, and large projects require a lot of time to be sure the community is getting new infrastructure that will be safe, properly executed and that will be around for future generations to enjoy.

TT: Tell us more about timing and how the City manages to schedule and complete so many capital projects.

JP: I’m so pleased with the engineering and planning departments’ ability to handle the volume and demand for new infrastructure projects. Every capital project requires planning, funding, design, construction oversight, and many other responsibilities that are carried out every day through project management and implementation. We are fortunate to have qualified teams in the planning and engineering departments, and all City departments, who are committed to common vision, exceeding community expectations.

TT: Can you describe what the Trailhead will look like aesthetically?

JP: It will look like a giant backyard for the businesses that abut the Trailhead. There will be lots of grass, minimal landscaping, and well— designed hardscaping to

compliment the area’s use. It’s going to be one more place, among all the existing attractive features, that make downtown Thomasville unique to other small towns.

TT: Why did the City undertake the bike and walk trail? The City has a magnitude of other infrastructure projects such as street paving, sewer improvements, drainage, etc. which we residents take for granted, yet they require most of the available resources. How do you find the time?

JP: The City wants to promote bike and pedestrian paths to further enhance the City and continue the work started by generations of leaders before us to make Thomasville the great place it is. We want to encourage a healthy lifestyle.

We want to participate in revitalization and place making so that Thomasville remains the choice for the best place to live, work and enjoy a nice quality of life.

TT: Jerry, before ending our interview, I think Townies would love to know more about your life outside of the city engineering office. When did you come to Thomasville, and what brought you here?

JP: I was living in Jacksonville, and love brought me here in 2010. I married my beautiful wife, Shannon, and began working for the City in May, 2011. In June, 2012 we welcomed our twins, Guy and Sawyer, into the world, and now we are pretty busy.

TT: So, would you say you are pleased to have Guy and Sawyer grow up in a town like Thomasville?

JP: {smiling} I sure am.

— Dara B.

Around Independence Day, I had the urge to perfect a rarified key lime pie. Unfortunately, the crust I’m dreaming of has eluded me. Concurrently, the universe has taunted me with the promise of key lime, from the availability of that sublime Florida Keys treat— — key lime pie on a stick— — in Tallahassee to key lime recipes galore in recent magazine editions. Finally, after encountering some gorgeous key lime filled doughnuts, I was inspired to think outside the pie. The result is a pâte à choux {aka cream puff} dough filled with a tart key lime curd and topped with a graham cracker streusel.

These bites have all the wonderful flavor of a classic key lime pie in a delectably different form.

Puffs @ 1 cup whole milk @ 5 tablespoons Sparkman's Cream Valley butter Lewis Produce @ 1 teaspoon sugar @ Generous pinch salt @ 1 cup flour @ 4 large eggs

Preheat oven to 375°F. Stir together milk, butter, sugar, and salt in a saucepan over medium-high heat and heat until just boiling. Remove from heat and stir in flour until combined. Return to heat and stir vigorously for another minute or two, until dough comes together in a smooth ball, being careful to not brown or burn the mixture.

Look for a slight matte film to form over the pan surface during the stirring. Put dough into a mixing bowl {using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment will be easiest}.

Incorporate eggs, one at a time, into the dough. Put dough into a pastry bag or a plastic bag with the tip cut off. {A decorating tip such as a Wilton No. 12 round tip can be used with the bag if desired.} Pipe 1 ½- 2 inch rounds onto a baking sheet lined with a silicon mat or parchment paper. Smooth any pointed tips on the rounds using damp fingertips. Bake for 25- 28 minutes, until golden brown and dry. Transfer to a wire rack and allow to cool. {Puffs can be made ahead of time and stored at this stage in the freezer.} Poke a small hole in the bottom of each puff using a sharp paring knife. Pipe a small quantity of cold key lime curd into each puff through the hole. Dip the top of each puff into the glaze and, while the glaze is still wet, press on graham cracker streusel.

Alternatively, shredded coconut can be used in place of the streusel. Store puffs in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Key Lime Curd @ 5 large egg yolks @ 3/4 cup sugar @ 1/2 cup key lime juice @ 2 teaspoons cornstarch @ 3 tablespoons Sparkman's Cream Valley butterLewis Produce

Whisk together egg yolks, sugar, and key lime juice in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 7-10 minutes, stirring frequently, until thickened. Reduce heat. Transfer a couple of tablespoons of the hot mixture into a small heatproof vessel, such as a ceramic ramekin, and stir in the cornstarch to make a slurry. Pour the cornstarch slurry into the mixture in the saucepan and stir briefly until thicker and gel-like in consistency. Turn off heat and add butter, stirring until it is melted and incorporated into the mixture. Refrigerate until cold.

Photography by Clay Byars

Graham Cracker Streusel @ 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs @ 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar @ 3 tablespoons Sparkman's Cream Valley butterLewis Produce

Mix together graham cracker crumbs and brown sugar in a small bowl. Cut in chunks of butter. Using your fingers, blend the ingredients together until a sandy mixture is formed. {Make sure the streusel is fine in texture with few larger lumps so that it is the right proportion for the puffs.}

What do your customers really think of you?

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Sugar Glaze @ 3/4 cup powdered sugar @ 2 tablespoons water

Sift powdered sugar into a small bowl. Whisk in the water until smooth.

—Kelly S.

to advertise, contact yourtownie@gmail.com

The stylish house There is a phenomena developing currently which burns me up to the point of lunacy, almost. We are all guilty of it on some level but the majority of the perpetrators of this heinousness seem to be the generation thirty-five years and younger.

Flips Flops on planes? Candles at lunch? Chrysanthemums in summer? Gold brocade?

No. Although, these offences have repeatedly driven me to roll my eyes heavenward and, on occasion, imbibe too much.

No, it is the amount of attention paid to phones. The constant looking down into your palm. The world is not inside a Smartphone. Period. Put. It. Down.

I gave a small cocktail party recently for younger family friends. Seven out of the eight guests were actively looking at their phones and the room was silent. I was the silent eighth.

I took a long sip from a Hendricks G&T and long drag from rarely taken cigarette and made an announcement.

“Pardon me. I will get the phone platter out. I’m so sorry, you must forgive me. I forgot to do it in the rush to make everything lovely for you all.”

I returned with a cracked Lowestoft platter form some grand, old dowager's estate sale {it had a small crack but if you boil porcelain in milk, it will disappear} and proceeded to snatch the phones out of the startled guests' plump little hands. I placed the platter on the entry hall table next to the card tray and informed them the phones were retrievable after dinner.

No discussions.

What happened next was also rather alarming. NO. ONE. COULD. THINK. OF. ANYTHING. TO. SAY! Seven pairs of eyes wandered around my drawing room in bemused silence.

Seven young, intelligent, educated young adults could not live for five minutes without recording it, or posting it or commenting on it.

What is ‘it’, you ask? It is life. It is the moment. It is actually HAVING something to record, post or comment on social media.

In the end, it worked out beautifully. As a middle aged party veteran who spent the decade of my thirties singing for my supper at fancy cocktail and dinner parties up and down the eastern seaboard, I was able to regale the younger group with stories and questions resulting in a lively conversation I believe everyone enjoyed.

So, Millennials. Do not wear a Metallica tee shirt and flip flops to a dinner party. Remove your Georgia Bulldogs hat upon entering someone’s home. Dress and act according to your age and station in life. Showing respect for yourself and others is the root of style. Do not spend the evening checking Facebook or Twitter or Snapchat. It is disrespectful to your host or hostess and to yourself. As Noel Coward once said, “it is the first duty as a guest to make the party a success.”

Style is not just a look. It is not the clothes on one’s back nor the roof over one’s head. It is a way of living life in a manner that sets you apart and, most importantly, sets those around you at ease. Go ahead, specialize in strangeness. Your life’s little eccentricities aren’t what make you strange, they’re what make you chic.

— John David Bray, Jr. is a Project Manager/Designer at Landford Thompson Interiors.

He sees clients in Thomasville by appointment.www. landfordthompsoninteriors.com

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september 4 - 17 VOLUME 4

september 4 - 17 VOLUME 4

FIND US ONLINE AT YOURTOWNIE.COM I endured a little bit of a reading rut in July, but I think I made up for it in August; seven books hit my nightstand last month, plus I’m adding two to the end of my August list since I’m this close to finishing them up before the month ends. {It’s not cheating; it’s rounding.} The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth.

My ARC of The Things We Keep languished under a pile of books all summer long, and if my sales rep hadn’t reminded me to submit my review, I’m afraid it would have stayed there. Instead, I moved it to the top of my queue and sailed through it in a couple of days. The Things We Keep weaves together the stories of two women: Anna Forster, a 38- year- old with Alzheimer’s disease, and Eve Bennett, a new single mother and the cook at Anna’s assisted living facility. The novel tackles some tough issues – early onset Alzheimer’s, end-of-life care, bullying, single parenthood - but Sally Hepworth handles most of them with humor; the book feels lighter than it should, given the subject matter, and the bits of romance Hepworth fits into the plot aren’t distracting, but enjoyable. You’ll have to wait a bit for this one; The Things We Keep releases in January.

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche. If you’re trying to read more diversely this year, go ahead and add Americanah to your list. The book is fantastic literature – Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche is a deft writer - but it’s also important reading given its realistic portrayal of fictional lives unfamiliar to my own. In Americanah, Adiche tells the love story of two Nigerian immigrants, but the romance isn’t nearly as interesting as Adiche’s observations on race and immigration and identity. I read this one slowly-even picking up another book about halfway through Americanah - and I’m glad I did. Jordan and I shared several lengthy conversations based on Adiche’s characters and their struggles to find a home outside their native land. Fiction can get away with subject matter that might otherwise make us uncomfortable; Americanah opened my eyes to new perspectives on immigration and race, and I’d recommend it for that reason alone.

The Opposite of Everyone by Joshilyn Jackson. We get a lot of ARCs in the mail, but when it’s Joshilyn Jackson, the ARC automatically becomes mine.

I’ve read every single one of her novels and have loved them all Her latest, The Opposite of Everyone, doesn’t release until February, but never fear: The book is just as readable and relatable as her others, meaning it will be worth your wait. I love Joshilyn for her ability to write about Southern life accurately and humorously; The Opposite of Everyone is no different, though this time, Joshilyn includes elements of Hindu culture and delves into the world of exploited young girls. Somehow, she combines those elements together into a book I couldn’t put down. Joshilyn, I love you. Come to Thomasville.

French Milk by Lucy Knisley. If you’ve been following The Bookshelf this summer, you know we recently added a couple of shelves, which meant expanding and adding new sections to the shop. One such addition? Graphic novels, which I had never read before. {And since my mother asked, let me explain: “graphic novels” are comic book-style stories-not pornography.} When Chris came on board earlier this summer, he recommended we start stocking a graphic novels shelf, so with his help, we have. And you know what? I’m glad, because I finally read my first two graphic memoirs this month. French Milk is written by artist Lucy Knisley; she writes and draws about a trip to France with her mother, and although mostly, I was blown away by the medium, I also loved the story she told. I was hungry throughout the entirety of the book {illustrations of French food will do that to a person}, but French Milk is also about entering adulthood for the first time. I loved this book.

Displacement by Lucy Knisley. If you wind up liking graphic novels or memoirs, it’s safe to say you won’t be able to stop at just one. I’d had so much luck with Lucy Knisley’s French Milk, I dove straight into Displacement, a graphic memoir based on her experience chaperoning her 90-year-old grandparents on a seniors cruise. I’m not sure if it’s the intimacy of the format, but I felt like I was right alongside Lucy as she watched her grandparents age and spent days caring for them aboard the cruise ship. Perhaps it’s my own personal experiences with aging grandparents, but I thought Displacement was beautifully done and heartbreakingly true to life; I’m now hooked on graphic memoirs and anxious for your recommendations. Bring them on. {And try Displacement if you’re looking for a way to ease into the genre.} 11/22/63 by Stephen King. True book confessions: I’d never read Stephen King until last month. Then I heard two separate podcasts recommend 11/22/63, which received a lot of hype when it debuted a few years ago. I figured better late than never. The good news? Stephen King is notoriously readable, and 11/22/63 was kind of a page- turner. I say “kind of,” because the bad news is? I don’t think I’m a fan. I anticipated reading a book about what might have happened had JFK never been assassinated, and instead got a 900-page time traveling love story {to which I’d recommend The Time Traveler’s Wife instead}. The story was interesting, and I enjoyed the “science” behind King’s time traveling elements, but I think the immense details King provided were a turn-off for me. I like my imagination to do most of the work when I’m reading, and King eliminated that for me. If you do decide to read 11/22/63 and haven’t already, let me tell you something I wish someone had told me: You’ll be on page 534 before you’re even close to the JFK assassination {which admittedly, was heartbreaking to read}.

For the Love by Jen Hatmaker. If I had a dollar for every time a Christian blogger published a book, I’d be a semi-rich woman. I hesitate to read most of those books because a} they have pink flowers on the cover, and b} many of them say the same thing, just in different styles of prose. Jen Hatmaker is the exception to that rule for me, mostly because she was a writer before she was a blogger, and she’s outrageously funny. Her new book of essays, For the Love, is somehow both immensely thought-provoking and hilarious; I sneaked a copy from the store last weekend, but as soon as September hits, I’ll be buying my own copy to write in and dog-ear. Her topics run the gamut, from marriage and supper clubs to Spanx and why 20-somethings leave the church. I’ll be rereading bits of this one, I’m sure.

Currently reading: Jimmy Carter’s A Call to Action and Tessa Hadley’s The Past.

See you in the shop, — Annie

Issue No.

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FACEBOOK.COM/THOMASVILLE.TOWNIE

Dance Card

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Bacchus, 229 West Jackson Street, 7p or 8 p, $6pp Every week the style changes. Singles and couples welcome. For more info call 236-9463 or visitwww.bacchusthomasvile.com.

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Caterpillar, 100 Caterpillar Way, 11a-1p, $8pp Plate includes 2 fish fillets, hushpuppies, slaw and fries. For more information call Stacy Hutchins at 558-5600.

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1 Water pitcher 2 Uncommon 3 Limbs 4 Synthetic fabric 5 Highest poing 6 Plant fiber used in ropes 7 Whiz 8 What is agreed on 9 Malt liquor 10 Day— time tv's Mr. Donahue 11 Boutique where Citizens of Humanity hang 13 Touch affectionately 15 One who despises 20 Baseball's Nolan 22 Recede 25 Evergreens 26 Tiny island 27 Scriptural your 29 Hit

Fuzzy Goat, 223 W. Jackson St., 6-8p Sock knitters gather to share patterns, solutions and challenges. For more information contact Cadence Kidwell at 236-4628.

United Way Fundraiser: Fish Fry at Caterpillar

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.16 of an inch College f-ball conference {abbr.} Gambling game Danish krone {abbr.}

September 9 at the Chamber Thomas County Chamber of Commerce, 401 S. Broad St., 12-1p Topic: “Why Don’t They Just Leave Us Alone?” For more information contact Christina Reneau at 226-9600.

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Downtown Thomasville at the corner of West Jackson St. and Stevens St. in The Bottom, Thomasville's Creative District, 7:30 - 9:30p, Free. Participating shops and restaurants will stay open late. Look for special pricing and deals all over downtown! Bring your lawn chair or blanket and spend a fun evening in Downtown Thomasville. For more information contact the Main Street Office at 227— 7020.

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FLAUNT Opening Reception Bacchus Downtown, 227 W. Jackson Street, 6:30-8:30p In keeping with the FLAUNT 2015 rock theme, "Ch Ch Changes" is an art exhibition that borrows its name from a line in a David Bowie song. This show features paintings by John Gleason that are driven by chance pours of ink and paint, the resulting imagery a collection of landscapes and environments undergoing peculiar transformations. Gleason is a Thomasville based artist and organizer of the exhibition project, "Driptorch." (www.johngleason.net ,www.driptorch.net )

FLAUNT 2015: Rock On! Opening Night Party Creative District Downtown Thomasville, 217 W. Jackson St., 6:30p, $30pp Celebrate the history of 70's Rock & Roll with murals, food, art and more at the FLAUNT: Rock On! Opening Night Party. Mural winners, photographers and window display award winners will be announced! Following the event, stay for street dancing with Jack Brinson and the Mainstream Band.

For more information call TCA at 226-0588.

September 12 Stars and Stripes 6K Patriot Walk/Run Myrtlewood Plantation, 3121 Lower Cairo Road, Thomasville, 8:30a, cost will be $25 for those who pay after 8/1. Walk or run through the picturesque Myrtlewood Plantation as you wind along the lakeside, up and down the hills and through the tree lined country roads. There will be awards, prizes, refreshments, and fun for all! The event is paid for by the support of community businesses and organizations in support of the Senior Chief David "Blake" McLendon Scholarship Fund a component fund of the Community Foundation of South Georgia, a tax deductible organization.

Registration applications will be available at many locations through out the county or you may register on line at runningintheusa.com.

FLAUNT 2015: Rock On! Mini Mural Painting Class with Phil Gleason Studio 209, 209 Remington Ave., 9:30a-2:30p Mini mural painting class with Phil Gleason. FLAUNT: 2015 Rock On! Returns Sept. 11-30 and promises to take you on a trip through rock history. Back by popular demand, we are bringing larger- than-life murals to West Jackson St. The 5th annual FLAUNT public art experience will pay homage to the Rock & Roll icons of the 70’s with pop art inspired murals, band battles and exhibitions. Visit www. thomasvillearts.org

'barbershop quartet' by Laura Floyd

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