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Issue No.
February 5 - February 18 VOLUME 5
Happy Valentine’s Dates Since Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday this year, let’s just go ahead and assume that you lovers are going to go out on the Saturday before. If not, there are not going to be many options on a Sunday. So, happy pre-Valentine’s dating.
For the active couple: {Note: You can actually do this date ON Valentine’s Day} Grab your running shoes and take a jog around Cherokee Lake. While you’re cooling down, you can head over to the rose garden because let’s get real, nothing is more romantic than strolling around in a rose garden. After that, head to MacIntyre Park and play a game of disc golf. If you’re feeling particularly fancy, you could always have a romantic picnic at the park after your disc golf game. Round out your fun day with a couple of bowling games. {Pro tip: Don’t forget your socks.}
For the foodie couple: Thomasville has some amazing restaurants. Luckily, many of them are within walking distance of each other. {Pro tip: Get reservations everywhere before you try to finagle your way into a restaurant on the day before Valentine’s day.} First, head to Chop House and get the Pork Belly or the Duck Flatbread {or both}. Then, head down to Liam’s and grab an entrée. If the weather is nice, sit in the courtyard. It’s enchanting at night. Last, head down to Sweet Grass Dairy Cheese Shop and get a chocolate flight and a glass of wine.
For the "I'm not sure we've been together long enough to celebrate Valentine's Day" couple: It’s probably a bit to premature to exchange gifts or even cards, but you want to do something. A great option for a new couple would be to park downtown and then walk to George and Louie’s where you can grab some dinner. If it’s not too cold, sit outside. The lights put an amazing glow on everything. Then walk to Bacchus and grab a drink. It’s a bit of a hike, but during the walk you can get in some really good conversation. Good news is that you were smart enough to put your car in a centralized location, so you don’t have to make the hike back to George and Louie’s for your car.
For the "Let's not put too much pressure on this Valentine's Day thing" couple: Go to Ice N’ Creamy and grab a scoop or two of ice cream. There’s nothing quite as adorable as people licking ice cream cones in tandem. Then make your way over to Gateway Cinemas and watch a movie. There’s a lot of romance in simultaneously ramming your hands into a bucket of popcorn. After the movie, head over to Grassroots and grab a coffee. There’s no way you’re going to want dinner after you’ve eaten four pounds of popcorn. Well, that’s all folks. We hope that you have an amazing Valentine’s Day. — Denise P.
Two Bad Days:
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February 5 - February 18 VOLUME 5
Brookwood Presents Bye Bye Birdie Looking for an activity that your entire family can enjoy? Does something with award winning music, choreography, and humor sound perfect? I’ve got something for you. On February 5, 6 & 7 Brookwood School will present the Tony award winning musical Bye Bye Birdie at the Thomasville Municipal Auditorium. Once again under the direction of Constance Clineman, Brookwood students, parents and members of the Thomasville community will bring to life the satirical take on life in the 1950s. Inspired by the draft of icon Elvis Presley into the Army in 1957, Bye Bye Birdie follows the story of rock star Conrad Birdie, his agent and songwriter Albert Peterson, Peterson’s secretary Rosie, and all-american teen Kim Macafee as they scheme and execute one final publicity stunt and then deal with the fallout after things go awry. The school play is a cherished tradition at Brookwood. When asked what he enjoyed most about participating in the school play, Parker Watt, who plays Albert Peterson said, “My favorite thing about the school musical is the fact that I get to become closer with so many talented people that I normally would not get the chance to be with.” You can ask any past or present cast member what the best part of the play is and it will almost always include some variation of Parker’s answer. It is a unique opportunity that brings together over 80 students ranging from Junior K to 12th Grade, teachers, faculty members and friends. The show will run Friday {8p}, Saturday {8p} and Sunday{2p} at the Thomasville Municipal Auditorium. General admission tickets are available at the door for $15 for Adults and $10 for students.
A Remembrance of Hutch I love my job. I really do. And I realize from the outside, Chamber of Commerce work can often look like puppies, kittens, rainbows and ribbon cuttings. But as with any job, there are good days and there are reeeeaaallly bad days. During my tenure as Chamber Executive here in Thomasville, I can thankfully only recall two truly bad days.
My second bad day was yesterday – the day I received the news that my sweet friend Hutch had passed. I had known for about a week it was coming but couldn’t help feeling like the rug had been ripped out from under me. Much like that other bad day, I felt lost and sad. I was sad for myself, sad for his family and sad for my community. His community.
The first bad day was a little over a year ago. I won’t go into any of the gory details, but suffice it to say, I was having a very hard time and was really questioning my role here. While sitting at my desk in tears, I got a call from my sweet friend, Bob Hutchison. Hutch was a member of my board and had been nothing but a bountiful source of love and support from the very start. I so vividly remember the first time I met him during my first formal interview for this job. He made what could have felt like an interrogation feel like Sunday dinner with the family.
I went on Facebook looking for a distraction and came across the I HEART HUTCH page created several months ago in support of my friend. And there it was. There it ALL was. All of the love and encouragement. All of the happiness and hope. Throughout the rest of the day, I saw glimpses of Hutch everywhere I turned. At a Chamber Ambassador meeting. At the gym. At the local barbeque joint. His legacy has survived! I started to realize that he had not only poured his goodness into his family. He has poured it into each and every one of us as well.
Knowing I was struggling that day, Hutch invited me to lunch. When I arrived, I found him and his daughter Holli waiting for me. The two of them spent that entire hour listening to me, encouraging me and basically bringing my pathetic pity party to a screeching halt. On that day, I was struck by not only what a loyal friend I had in Hutch, but how his daughter was exactly like him. He had managed to pass along his traits of kindness and compassion to his daughter almost like blue eyes or brown hair. I could see in sharp relief the amazing legacy he had provided her. Later on, as I met other members of the family, I noticed these same traits in them too, as if it was a Hutchison family tradition.
I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to say goodbye. He signed off with me exactly how he always did, with “I love you, Sweetie.” He always had a way of making me and everyone else around him feel like family. So in that spirit, my plan is to pass his legacy on to my children. What better way to honor such an extraordinary human being? I believe as long as we make it a point to share his legacy with the ones we love, the Hutch we loved will never truly die.
— Emily M.
Whispers Psst...mention this whisper in an e-mail to yourtownie@gmail.com for two free tickets to the Sunday showing of Bye Bye Birdie...first to e-mail gets them... Take your kiddos to Victorian Valentines at the LP House on Feb. 13...a scavenger hunt and crafting are sure to get them in the spirit...call Amelia at the Historical Society for the deets... Stay tuned for an interview with a celeb...
CHUMS Nick & Areka Beckham
CHUMS
These chums have known each other since high school but it wasn’t until they each got a little more life under their belts that they found love-at-first-sight-in-a-really-long-time. Seven years later, Nick and Areka Beckham manage a house full of kids and one super sweet dog but they are so sweet on each other you would think they are still dating. #RelationshipGoals #TheseAreYourValentinesChums What is the first thing you noticed about each other? A: He's tall, dark & handsome. Hard NOT to notice. N: Her green eyes. I thought a woman like her could only be dreamed up in a book or made in a movie. She looked exotic. I had to make her mine. What do you love most about each other? A: His sense of humor. He makes me laugh out loud every single day…and he's seriously smart so I never ever have to help with homework. N: I love the way she talks to people. She can get complete strangers to open up to her. She listens and is genuinely interested in what they have to say. I've always been mesmerized by that. How does Nick make you feel loved? Every day we're together he shows my boys how to treat a woman & our girls how to be treated by a man. That's pretty special. How does Areka make you feel loved? She has always supported me when I've wanted to pursue different careers. Behind every strong man... Who said "I love you” first? A: He's going to love answering this. I did. At Waffle House. Don't judge. N: Duh. She did. At the Waffle House. Romantic, I know. What is your ideal Valentines date? A: This year I want to watch Deadpool with him. We love to watch movies but rarely get to sneak away to the theatre. N: A secluded cabin weekend in the mountains. A grill, a fire pit, a view and time with each other. Having toddlers can make it very difficult to spend time together.
— Emily M.
— Lauren Basford, Executive Director, Thomasville-Thomas County Chamber of Commerce
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