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JAN 16 - FEB 5
Issue No.
JAN 16 - FEB 5
1
Whispers.
Southern Living to Feature A Different Drummer Southern Living magazine found a gem in downtown Thomasville. The local treasure, A Different Drummer, will be featured in February 2015’s edition for the magazine’s 2.8 million subscribers. Ron Ernst, owner of this sporting art gallery, wasn’t surprised they fell in love with the vintage shop, especially the gardens that grace the back of the downtown historic property. An avid hunter and sportsman all his life, Ron has been collecting unique and vintage artwork and accessories since college – his first find, a decoy, cost him all of three dollars in North Dakota and is now valued at around $300-$400. His decoy collection stands out, but don’t call it a decoy shop. The wooden collectibles represent only 20% of his business. Artwork fills the walls with ducks in flight, dogs on point and scenes of the hunt creating a cozy, outdoor feel to the space. Walking into the two-story gallery is like walking into a collector’s home. The time spent exploring A Different Drummer is well spent. Along with vintage artwork, every space is filled with lodge-like furniture and decorative accessories. Ron can tell you the provenance of each item and many collectors in the region rely on his experience as they add to their collections or home décor.
CHUMS
sporting life collection at several of the early Plantation Wildlife Art Festivals and the Thomasville Antiques Show. He received such a great response that he made the leap to downtown business in 2006. He mentioned the idea, as a lark, to Bubba McKinnon in 2005, asking him to “stay alert to find a store with an upstairs. He called my bluff and the next thing I knew Nancy McCollum showed me this house at 206 S. Broad Street.” A Different Drummer found a home in the, circa 1891, property of Dr. Thomas McIntosh and even now there is a strong welcoming feel. Southern Living magazine must have had the same feeling of inspiration when they walked through the door. Not only is the 1600 square foot gallery beautifully restored, but the quality of Ron Ernst’s collection and his knowledge gives the sporting art collector confidence. For those who just love hunting and the outdoor life, browsing is a must – this is a true gallery of unique, vintage artwork and decoys. And, don’t miss the English garden - it truly represents southern living. A Different Drummer, 206 S. Broad Street, is open Thursday and Friday 12-5 and Saturday 11-6 or by appointment. www.adifferentdrummergallery.com
Ron came to Thomasville after showing his vintage
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Vic Spigener
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Vic was born in Augusta, Georgia and has been a member of IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Association) for over fifteen years—as one of fifteen members of IECA from Georgia and the only one from Southwest Georgia. A private education consultant and Brookwood School English teacher, he’s one of the wittiest and most impeccably dressed people we know.
welcome Didi, Emily and Amanda to our pages!
Tell us about your personal style, and those mini-book cufflinks! I am very lucky that I can wear most of the clothes I wore fifteen to twenty years ago, and I never pay full price for my clothes. I buy most of my clothes online from Paul Fredrick, Robert Graham, Ralph Lauren, and Charles Tyrwhitt. Regarding the Shakespeare book cufflinks, they open, and there are words written on the pages. It is amazing the things you can find on Etsy. Tell us about your dogs. My wife and I fell in love with West Highland White Terriers (Westies) over fifteen years ago. Piper, our present Westie, has a mind of her own and keeps us on our toes. My wife Laurie and I love her dearly as we did Angus and Tess. We have beautiful portraits of our three dogs by Jessi Singletary, a 2008 Brookwood graduate, and Grayson Durham, a present ninth grade student, both very gifted artists. What do you like to do around town? When not working, my wife and I walk Piper either around town or at Pebble Hill Plantation, where Laurie has membership. When not in Thomasville, we’re at our home in New England.
Sad news...Relish is closing...but their wares are discounted for the liquidating if it's any solace... Dash is staying...! and moving. Stay tuned...
Shhhhhh...Yoga and massage are coming soon to Cobalt 211...
Got a Whisper? Tell the Townie at editor@ yourtownie.com...or zip us a message on Facebook...
Do you have a favorite Shakespeare quote? “…to thine own self be true…” [Hamlet I iii, 78-80] - Jennifer W.
- Didi H.
- Clay B.
Just Say YEP Are you between the ages of 21 and 40? Are you an entrepreneur or professional? Would you be excited to meet other entrepreneurs and professionals in Thomasville? If you answered YEP! to those questions, then you would be a perfect fit for the new Young Entrepreneurs and Professionals group – YEP! This new Thomasville group is the brainchild of Christina Reneau and Lauren Basford at the Thomasville-Thomas County Chamber of Commerce.
The initial meeting will be used to determine what the members want out of YEP!, which will grow into a mixture of lunch and learns, after-hours gatherings and much more. The Chamber’s goal is for local professionals to make connections with other local professionals.
“We have continued to hear an interest for a group like this to get started,” said Reneau. “We named it YEP! because it is fun and creative, which is how we feel this program will take shape.”
“We hope the connections that are made and the information that will be shared between professionals will help keep business thriving in Thomasville,” Reneau said.
The first meeting will be held on January 22 at 5:30p at Building 209. Membership is going to be kept separate, allowing individuals to be a part of the group without being Chamber members.
Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (229)226-9600 for more information. - Amanda S.
Did you know with the click of a few buttons you can get all the Townie news delivered to your e-mail? The Townie newsletter has an article roundup + the occasional subscriber-only coupon for the Townie Store and it's easy to sign up! Swing by www.yourtownie.com and find the subscription sign up on the right-hand side - leave us your info and we will do the rest!
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LUNCH! JANUARY 24, 2015
11:00 to 2:00 HandsOnThomasCounty.org or 226.5200 for tickets
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CALLIGRAPHY with Anne Elser Studio 209 209 JanuaryStudio 15,INTRO 6:30-8:30 TO pm
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“We wanted entrepreneurs and professionals to be able to become members of YEP! even if they are not currently a member of the Chamber of Commerce,” said Reneau. “If someone views this as a beneficial group to join, then we are excited to have them be a part of it.”
www.thomasvillearts.org www.thomasvillearts.org
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Thomasville Center for the Arts and the South Georgia Ballet are kicking off “FUSE Boots & Ballet,” an evening of music, art and dance – southern rock style! – Friday, January 30th. Held at TCA, guests are invited to an art exhibition, performance, and after-party, and are encouraged to dress in their very boot-best. “Boots & Ballet” marks the annual fusion event between TCA and SGB, where the two creative powerhouses pair an emerging artist to a themed performance. This year’s performance will be danced to iconic southern rock tunes, and SGB has brought in choreographers from LA to New York to bring the classic numbers to life. Grammy-winning songs ranging from 1979 to 2013, such as the "Devil Went Down to Georgia" and "Wagon Wheel," will be performed live by Thomasville’s Dana King and the Gypsy Cotton band. “We wanted to do an event that merged classic rock to ballet,” says Melissa June, Artistic Director for SGB. “People will relate to the music. It is all of the favorites – live!” In turn, TCA tapped Ridley Stallings (Savannah, GA) to be the featured artist. The two are a perfect match, as Stallings creates art with a southern, eclectic twist. Famous
t h a n k s
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for her larger-than-life guitars, she crafts folk pieces out of tongue-and-groove flooring, crown molding, bead board, and reclaimed wood salvaged from old Southern homes. Her career began by co-founding a high-end women’s boutique. She was forever hunting regional folk art to hang in the store, which led to her own artistic pursuit driven by an obsession with American and nautical flags. Her work will be paired with select pieces from the Artist Collective Thomasville’s Rough and Refined exhibition, and all pieces will be for sale. "I am so grateful to be chosen as the featured artist at this awesome show,” Stallings shares. “As a Georgian, it fills me with pride to be in such a wonderful town, especially since all of my recycled materials are sourced from around this state.” Dana King and the Gypsy Cotton band will again perform at the after party, where guests can shake it in their boots. “Boots and Ballet” opens at 6p with the art exhibition, followed by the performance at 7p, and the after party at 8p. For more information and to purchase tickets ($25 for adults, $15 for students) head to thomasvillearts.org
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Mimi's Black Friday Ad 2015.indd 1
- Callie S.
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JAN 16 - feb 5
A Ribbon Cutting for Teen Clinic Reopening Our Staff Publisher Thomasville Townie, LLC Editor in Chief Jennifer Westfield Social Media Denise Purvis Administration Sarah Esra Columnists J. David Bray, Jr. Sarah Esra Nancy McCollum Denise Purvis Kelly Samek Contributing Writers Clay Byars Wade Chapman Benjamin Gardner Didi Hoffman Natalie Kirbo Emily McKenna Denise Purvis Callie Sewell Amanda Smith Jennifer Westfield Contributing Artists Laura Floyd Benjamin Gardner Graphic Design + Website Maintenance Katie Reeves Georgia Press Association
Supporting and enhancing the educational, physical and emotional wellbeing of the Thomas County community is the mission of The Thomasville Community Resource Center (TCRC). For over 20 years the TCRC has given academic and afterschool support to the community, but the desire to provide community healthcare with emphasis on teens was also a part of their original mission. In conjunction with United Healthcare Community Plan, the much anticipated re-opening of The Teen Clinic on January 10th was a day of activities and celebration. A ribbon cutting ceremony on January 27th officially solidifies the TCRC and United Healthcare collaboration at the TCRC location. Teens in Thomas County will now have access to life skill workshops, parenting classes, prevention education, health screenings and clinical services. Teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease rates in Thomas County are some of the highest numbers in Georgia, much higher than the state rate. With proper education and healthcare, the TCRC hopes to lower these numbers and keep children in school through graduation. United Healthcare Community Plan has granted 15 computers to the TCRC with two for use in The Teen Clinic. These computers will be used while teens are visiting so they can easily complete forms and information. The computers will also be available to families for online reenrollment access for services needed with the Division of Family and Children Services. United Healthcare donated the 15 refurbished laptop computers as part of their Community Computer Program. Their goal is to provide for the economically disadvantaged and medically underserved community. They want to build strong relationships with local families and reach the most vulnerable to give them opportunity. The two laptops will serve The Teen Clinic and the remaining 13 will be in the TCRC computer lab, where students will do research for their school projects, write papers and stay current with technology. Families will also be able to access DFAC’s online system for reenrollment services. Since a cell phone is the best way to communicate with teens, the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential (GCAPP) based out of Atlanta, developed a free phone app that allows The Teen Clinic to provide health information for teens. GCAPP has found phone apps to be a successful way to keep teens aware of healthcare priorities and locations for services.
Printed by the Bainbridge Post Searchlight
A driptorch is an incendiary tool used in the practice of prescribed burns. “I’m taken by how such an unlikely device can be a catalyst for new growth” says local artist John Gleason. John conceived Driptorch as an independent art show, building upon themes of The Plantation Wildlife Arts Festival. After the initial show in November, John was encouraged by many people to extend it. Thomasville Center for the Arts has kindly offered to help with the logistics of keeping the show up through January. “I’ve considered making it a yearly thing, allowing it to morph into something different each time, perhaps with guest curators.” says Gleason. And so, on a drizzly November Saturday morning, I made my way down South Broad Street to the Hollybrook building. A small a-frame sign with an arrow pointing up towards an open door and a flight of stairs said Driptorch. Climbing up the stairs and stepping through an enormous metal-clad door, I entered an old unfinished second floor room. A pair of sculpted dogs emblazoned with buttons was in front of an old fireplace and they looked like they were care free, playing the way puppies do. On an opposite wall was a deer mount made with brightly colored objects, feathers and ribbon. Walking up another flight of stairs I landed on the third floor where larger and still colorful paintings were hung along an unfinished, old-weathered interior that made the works seem to pop off of the walls. Grabbing a mimosa, I spent the next two hours transported away from this town, wandering the two floors, gazing intently at the composition, textures and colors of each piece. The exhibiting Driptorch artists are Sarah Emerson, Mark Messersmith, Mary Engel, Lilian Garcia-Roig and Marcus Kenney. In diverse ways their works explore landscape and the animal kingdom as a point of departure and a uniting factor. The show will be up through January 31. Gallery hours are Saturdays 11a - 5p or by appointment during the week. For more information, email John Gleason at info@driptorch.net, visit the Facebook page https://www.facebook. com/DriptorchThomasville, or call (229) 319-2183. - Clay B.
The Teen Clinic is located at The Thomasville Community Resource Center, 501 Varnedoe Street, Thomasville. 229-226-4055.
Root 3:16 Show to Benefit Baby Alex
- Didi H.
Three Oaks Opening Soon
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. - 2 Corinthians 9:7
Wine lovers, the wait is nearly over. Three Oaks Wine & Spirits will open the last week of January or the first week of February in the Publix shopping center (near Sweet Basil’s) and promises to have an amazing wine section. Dennis and Johnny Maggitas and Angelo Mathes are excited about bringing a new wine and liquor store to the ‘Ville.
The other day I spoke with Jim Spangler and Bobby Dollar about the upcoming benefit concert for Baby Alex. Not only are they excited to be playing and spreading the word of God, they are also enthusiastically ready to raise money for a deserving family. Root 3:16 began as a challenge among friends seven years ago with the mission to introduce Jesus Christ to as many unsaved people as possible through Christian music, and to encourage as many born-again Christians to worship and praise the Lord.
Both the interior and exterior of the store are upscale and modern—not two words that usually describe a liquor store. The interior and exterior feature brick, custom windows, granite counters and many other details that make it much unlike your usual package store. “We really wanted to set ourselves apart and focus on making our store beautiful,” said Dennis. “Many package stores focus on saving money on every step, but I really wanted to make this a nice store with a Thomasville feel.” The first thing that a person entering the store will notice is the modern wine section. Their wine section features wooden racks and boats to house the wines. It is obvious that Maggitas has focused his attention on the wine section.
The Thomasville Townie publishes the first and third Friday of every month. To advertise, suggest article ideas or contact staff members, please email editor@yourtownie.com.
Driptorch Extended
The space is over 5,000 square feet, which will include the beer coolers, wine room section and wine area. Three Oaks will have the biggest beer cave in South Georgia at just over 420 square feet. Maggitas said that they will carry fine wines and liquor staples and try to tap into the growth of craft and microbrew beers, but their main focus will be on high-end wines. Dennis Maggitas knows a lot about the spirit business. He started out as a bartender, then became a liquor salesman for seven years once he got out of college. He owned Carol Hill Package for 10 years. Maggitas really wanted to put another liquor store on the Publix side of town due to the growth of Thomasville. His grandfather and his brother bought The Plaza in the 1940s and operated it from 1940-2007. Maggitas spent some time as a bartender there and stated, “The spirit business is in our blood.”
Friday, February 6, the band along with guests Kathy Gartley, Tony Chapman, Jamie Nunnally, Chris & Dana King and Shawn Walden will perform at First United Methodist Church’s Fellowship Hall to raise money for another cause. The event will include a silent auction, dinner and concert. “ One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the Suarez family for Baby Alex,” says Spangler. Spangler explains the community has been extremely generous with support, donations and volunteering. This year began with preparations for the event in early October. Baby Alex was born May 25, 2014 to Alex Jr., and his wife Rena with Esophageal Atresia, an abnormality where the esophagus isn't connected to the stomach, as well a list of other issues including a hole in his heart. When he was first born he was in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for three weeks. “When Chris, keyboard player for Root 3:16, came to me to let me know that the band had decided to do a benefit for my family I was overwhelmed” explains Alex Jr. Shuffling six kids around, making sure their needs are met, making trips to Atlanta to see specialists and trips to a therapist have all been very challenging for the family. The night starts with a silent auction at 6:15p, dinner at 6:30p and concert at 7:00pat the First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 425 North Broad Street. Tickets are $15 and available at Rayann’s Christian Bookstore on Broad street, and at Bobby Dollar Appliance Consultants on Jackson Street. Donations for the silent auction can be made by contacting Bobby Dollar at 229228-5112 or Janell Miller at 229-228-7144. Monetary donations can be made on the band’s website at www.Root316.com via PayPal.
- Denise P.
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- Clay B.
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JAN 16 - FEB 5
The Stylish House
Beauty Broad truly ENjOY A BATH
There must be quite a few things a hot bath won’t cure, but I don’t know many of them. - Sylvia Plath Chipping away at New Year’s resolutions, goals, and bouts of inspired closet de-cluttering? Me too! So, let’s take a break… actually, let’s take a bath! A hot bath is nourishing, satisfying and the ultimate experience in relaxation. Physical benefits include increased blood and lymphatic circulation, a calm nervous system and detoxification. The best part? You can do it in the privacy of your own home. Make an appointment with yourself, gather a few essentials, and begin…. There are a few key elements for the perfect bath. The first is that you have at least 30 minutes to an hour to yourself and ask that you not be disturbed if possible… emergencies only! Next gather a fluffy towel and comfy p.j.’s. I like to have this time to sit with my thoughts and enjoy the quiet, but you may want to have a good book or music. Candles are great to set the mood and promote relaxation, so I usually add one or two.
beginning the year in style
water, which will make your skin silky and smooth. Adding 1/2 cup with your epsom salts will enhance detoxifying benefits.
The holidays are finally over and we can put a period to 2014. Happy New Year 2015!
Zum Bath Salts are infused with hints of essential oils that stimulate the senses and the added Shea butter leaves your skin smooth and moisturized. I love going to Whole Foods to stock up on Zum. They have a nice variety and you can scoop your own. Or, visit http:// www.indigowild.com .
The post-holiday/winter season is a great time to do the typical seasonal maintenance: the deep cleaning, the turning of rugs, the cleaning of inside window glass. However, seasonal maintenance is not exactly what one considers a fun, albeit necessary, project.
Fresh orange or ginger added to the hot, steamy bath water is invigorating! Float several pieces of fresh orange peel and a slice of ginger for an aromatic experience. A little will do the trick…too much might be irritating.
Often, there is Christmas money or gift cards burning a hole or simply a rush of creative energy brought on by a New Year. It is easy to remember that funky piece of furniture you saw while holiday shopping or the fun colors on a host’s wall whilst a plus one at a cocktail party. That gift from the parents or grandparents that could FINALLY jumpstart a project.
Taking time for a bit more indulgence and pampering? Add a coconut oil massage before you get into the bath. You may want to put a towel under your feet before you begin. There is no wrong way to do this. You just take a small amount oil and massage your legs, torso, and arms just as you would with body lotion. You get the benefits of massage and added suppleness to your skin.
Epsom Salts are my essential go to bath time ingredient. These are not actually “salts” at all but minerals. Magnesium Sulfate easily absorbs through the skin to hydrate, soothe muscles, and relieve stress. Most of us are deficient in magnesium anyway so this is an added boost to your cells. Add ½ to 2 cups under running water.
The perfect bath is yours to create! Prioritizing quiet moments for yourself is important so you will be grounded, rested and prepared to take care of the other parts of your life.
Baking soda is another simple and inexpensive ingredient to add to your bath. It increases the alkalinity of the
- Sarah E.
Nourishing your body, mind and soul can be done so simply…so take a bath!
Farm to Table be split into two batches if you have limited counter space.) Spread filling mixture evenly across the dough until it nearly reaches the edges. Roll dough into a roulade and, using a sharp knife, gently slice into 24 medallions. Place medallions flat side down in lined cupcake tins. Cover and set aside. Let rise again until double. Preheat oven to 325°F. Bake until golden, about 18 to 20 minutes. Allow cupcakes to cool in pans for 10 minutes; remove and finish cooling on wire racks. Finish cooled cupcakes with icing and green, purple, and gold sugars or any other desired décor.
Farm to Table
King Cupcakes 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup sugar 4 teaspoons instant yeast 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1/2 cup warm milk 2 eggs 3 egg yolks 10 tablespoons melted butter Fit a standing mixer with a dough hook attachment. Combine flour, sugar, yeast, and salt in the bowl of the mixer. With the mixer on low speed, pour in milk, eggs and egg yolks, and melted butter, a little at a time, until all ingredients are combined. Continue mixing on low for 10 minutes. If by this time the dough is still wet and loose and has not formed a ball, add a tablespoon or two of flour. Turn onto oiled surface and knead for 5 minutes. Place dough ball into an oiled bowl, cover, and place in a draft-free location. Let dough rise until it doubles in size, from 1 to 2 hours. While the dough rises, prepare filling and line two dozen-capacity cupcake tins with paper liners. Once ready, turn the dough out onto an oiled surface and roll out into a long rectangle. (The dough can
However tempting, avoid being trendy. Yes, fun accents and products come around every year. And, they go around just as quickly. Resist impulse purchases for the home and think instead, “will I still like this and will it be valid in one, five or even ten years?” We all know a simple coat of paint can transform a room at a minimal cost. But, who wants to paint a bedroom or dining room every year in the latest colors seen in the magazines or on television? Things are called classics for a reason. Stick with something you like and you can
If you’re fortunate enough to have received a hefty Christmas bonus or familial gift, it can be both wise and fun to invest in a renovation or small project. While easy to envision new appliances, updated bathrooms, or an outdoor grilling area complete with fireplace, it is also easy to delude yourself, because you want it and have the means, into believing it a wise investment, adding value to the home. Sadly, this is often not the case. What may work for now and be fantastic for a few years can become less so with the addition of a child, home career or reversal of fortune. Maybe not such a great idea to turn the dining room into a billiard room. Probably not wise to enlarge the deck to Gatsby-sized proportions with that new baby coming. Better not to turn that extra bedroom into the Carrie Bradshaw-like closet of your dreams. Simply put, do not always assume you are or will be getting a return on your investment. What works for you may not work for a potential buyer. I hope this advice, hard won, helps in making 2015 a creative and stylish New Year. - Davey B.
Got a tip for the Townie? Shoot us an email: editor@yourtownie.com
king cupcakes
King cake, a ring of sweet bread dripping in even sweeter icing, is a Gulf coast favorite for carnival season, which stretches between Epiphany on January 6 and Mardi Gras (otherwise known as Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday). Sliced and baked up into cupcakes, the dessert/snack/decadent breakfast treat becomes all the more portable and adorable. Although a basic cinnamon roll filling is traditional, in recent years a wide variety of flavors have become popular. Use one of the fillings provided here or try your favorite pie or pastry filling. If you want to enjoy the custom of the king cake baby—where the finder is promised good fortune—you can tuck the plastic figurine into a cooled cupcake before icing. A large dried bean, pecan or walnut half, or tiny ceramic charm can serve as substitute.
All are terrific in theory but I have some advice on what NOT to do with extra holiday means or a surge of creativity in the New Year.
never go wrong. Regardless of whether it’s fashionable or not. Stay particularly away from “accent” walls and primary colors. I believe a room only needs three paint colors. The ceiling (flat), the walls (eggshell) and the trim (at least a semi-gloss). Although, nothing is ever written in stone.
Cinnamon Filling 3/4 cup packed brown sugar 1 generous tablespoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon nutmeg Mix ingredients together until evenly distributed. Almond Filling 3/4 cup almond meal 1/4 cup sugar
Gin Creek Wine Offerings: A Townie Tasting Last edition I brought you coverage about Gin Creek coming to downtown Thomasville. This feature is going to be about the wine tasting that I experienced at Gin Creek. I have to be truthful, I enjoyed the first wine tasting so much that I brought my best friend who lives out of town to another tasting. I feel that this makes me sound like a wino, but for the purposes of this article I’ll just call it “research.”
• Carlos Estate Semi Sweet—We are heading into sweet wine categories now. It has 3% residual sugar. I gave it a 4.
You receive a score card (for lack of a better term) for the wines that you sample at the tasting. Since I now have two score cards, I can compare my first tasting to my second and average the scores if they are not identical. Most of my scores are spot on from one trip to the next. I must have a highly sophisticated palate.
• Red Naked Rosé—Ritchie DeMott said that it’s the best seller. It is a blend of red and white wines, and it’s my second favorite of the bunch. It has 4% residual sugar. I gave it a 4.5.
As I mentioned in the previous edition, Gin Creek grows their own grapes, makes their own wine and bottles it all the while operating a wedding venue at the plantation outside of Moultrie. It’s an impressive operation. The wines are made from American (A) hybrids, FrenchAmerican (FA) hybrids and muscadine grapes.
• Nobel Estate Semi Sweet—Ritchie said that drinking a glass of this wine each night is like getting an hour of exercise in a the gym and that it’s full of antioxidants. It has 3% residual sugar. I gave it a 3.
The tasting starts with dry white wines then moves to sweet white then sweet red and lastly dry red for an easier transition. (Although your experience may vary.)
1/4 water 1 teaspoon almond extract
• Carlos Estate Sweet—This one tastes completely different than the previous wine. It has 6% residual sugar. I do not prefer sweet wines, so sorry CES. I gave it a 2.5.
• Noble Estate Sweet—This is the sweetest of the reds at 6% residual sugar. I gave it a 2.5.
• Pack House Red—This is the most expensive wine at Gin Creek. Whereas most bottles cost between $12.50$18.50, this bottle costs $38.95. GC only made 33 cases of this wine. It’s made from an A grape, the Lomanto. It has 0% residual sugar. I gave it a 4.
Mix almond meal and sugar together. Add in water and extract and mix until combined.
I tried the nine wines that were available out of the 13 wine roster on both trips. Wines are scored on a level of 1-5 on taste.
Icing
• Blanc du Bois Estate—Made from a FA grape. It is the driest of the whites (0% residual sugar). It also happens to be my favorite of the whites. I gave it a 4.
• Lenoir—This is my favorite by far. If I could give it a 10, I would, but the scale only goes to 5. This wine has a rich history, which you can read on the back of the bottle. The Lenoir grape is the oldest hybrid grape in America. It has 1/2% of residual sugar. It’s spicy and wonderful. I gave it a 5.
• Blanc du Bois Estate Reserve—Made from a FA grape. It has slightly more sugar than the previous wine (1% residual sugar). I gave it a 3.
The wine tasting is a perfect date activity or girls night out event. It’s also fun if you’re a weirdo writer who is doing the tasting alone.
Wines 3-7 are made with muscadine grapes.
For more information about Gin Creek, call 229-236WINO or visit the website http://www.gincreekwine. com.
1 cup powdered sugar 2 tablespoons milk 2 teaspoons extract of your choice Mix ingredients together until smooth. Color with gel coloring if desired. - Kelly S.
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- Denise P.
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JAN 16 - FEB 5
Don't Miss 'The Music Man'
Confessions of a Flats Fishing Addict catching perch and spelling river names
Ok, I’ll admit I am still not sure how to spell the name of my favorite river. I know all I have to do is Google it right? I have decided it’s not always important to know everything all the time. Google has taken all the fun out of just wondering about things sometimes. For example, I am glad I can’t just Google how many fish I caught last week with my little fishing buddies Mary Claire and her cousins Palmer and Elle (or is it EL or Elizabeth Lorna – her parents kinda confuse me). I just remember having fun and catching some great speckled perch – that’s right all you salt water big shots – speckled perch, not trout. Thanks to a very gracious host Uncle E, Mary Claire and I have access to a fish camp located on an undisclosed portion on the river I don’t know how to spell. That means campfires and game feeders and .22 rifle exhibitions by Palmer and Mary Claire (Elle/EL/ Elizabeth Lorna would rather play on the tire swing during the target practice). By the way, Palmer can also hit anything with his Daisy BB gun even though it swirls the BB in strange directions out of the barrel.
I think some of the kids just like going because we eat so well while there, but whatever it takes ,right? Very little Googling takes place during the day….so when I asked my fishing buddies how to spell the river this is what I got: Palmer: Acclockney Mary Claire: Oklocknee Me: Ochlocknee However you spell it, I encourage you to enjoy a day on it! We caught several nice perch (country folks around here call them “slabs”). I know what you are thinking…minnows and corks on a lazy river can’t compare to XBox and Minecraft and Trivia Crack….. but the kids won’t miss those things a bit if they have our full attention for a few hours! The first person to email the correct spelling to editor@yourtownie.com will win a $10 gift certificate from the Townie Store. - Wade. C.
Quoted in the ‘Ville Name a New Year’s Resolution you have actually kept, or alternatively, one unusual. - Benjamin G. 2010 resolution: to achieve the first solo exhibit of my oil paintings at a prominent venue. Successful because early that year forty of my paintings were displayed at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens Gallery. - Diane N. Twenty years ago I resolved not to drink anything alcoholic for a year. Made it. Fifteen years ago, no TV for a year. Made it. Then, I resolved to give up speeding. Only made it one day. - Shannon B. Five years ago I resolved to run the Rose City. I trained, prepared, and did it. I have run the race every year since. - Christopher L. Q. Twelve years old, jumping off the love seat at midnight, and thinking “I’ll never forget this New Year’s.” I was airborne with a mouth full of cheese puffs when the clock struck midnight. Even after all these years, I still remember. - David L. As a rule, I do not make resolutions. The last one I made was to leave social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram). Best decision I have made in a while. - Rich C. In the past I have resolved to read through the Bible. I have done it successfully several times, but not lately. Resolve wars with my flesh! - Teal H. M. The only resolution I ever made that I was able to keep was, “I plan to make no resolutions this year.” - Dr. Cal R. & Crystal L. Last year - 2014 - to be more intentional, plan, make realistic goals, allow myself time for projects, give time for friends & family, exercise and rest so that I am a more productive individual. - Clay B. Never be too old or too good to learn (2001). - June W. B. Despite various resolutions to the contrary, I continue to respire, cohabitate, and consume. This year, as with most, I will give humanity the benefit of the doubt. - Dr. James S. I seek to daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly to conform to Christ, to reflect Him more and more, me less and less. - Robin O. To put others before myself (not always easy) and to be more organized/consistent. Artistically, I go from one project to another. An outside viewer, like my husband sees only that I have left a mess. - Sarah L. To leave city, quit job, and move to a rundown farmhouse on 80 acres in the country, shear sheep, and spin wool into yarn. Most unusual since: Not to buy any more sheep, not to shear any more sheep, and to learn Italian when I need a break from learning Mandarin Chinese. - Marianne H.
Now accepting Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten applications for the 2015-2016 school year. Contact Rebecca Erwin, Director of Admissions, for an application at 229.226.8070. Brookwood School 301 Cardinal Ridge Road Thomasville, Georgia 31792 www.brookwoodschool.org
If you’re like me, then turning on the news has been a disheartening experience lately. It’s nice when you can turn it off for a few hours and escape into a world of happy endings. If you are indeed like me, then I have some good news. You have three opportunities in February to venture into the world of Meredith Willson’s Tony Award winning musical The Music Man presented by Brookwood School’s Drama Guild. Director Connie Clineman says the time is right for a show about “a dreamer who brings color, hope, and a belief in the future” and I couldn’t agree more. Harold Hill is a travelling salesman who, in the words of cast member Trent Griner, “gets his foot caught in the door when he meets a librarian in a small town in Iowa and it changes his whole life.” After speaking with Connie and cast members Trent Griner, Melanie Quinton, and Mary Elizabeth Benton it is clear that music man Harold Hill’s journey from con man to a townie in his own right has inspired a life of living in color both on and off the stage. Senior Trent Griner, who will be bringing Harold Hill to life, says that after 6 seasons of working under the direction of Clineman he is now “too stubborn not to dream.” The annual Brookwood play is a family event that has brought members of the community together for 24 years. The cast of The Music Man is made up of over 90 students, faculty, and administrators. Parents volunteer for jobs ranging from public relations to ushering to costuming.
Mary Elizabeth Benton’s Drama Guild participation has included roles in every production since she was in Junior Kindergarten and even a role when she was a baby. This year she will be playing the role of Mrs. Paroo, the mother of Harold Hill’s love interest Marian Paroo, played by sophomore Melanie Quinton. Mary Elizabeth says that it is the community of people that has brought her back each year. She still receives encouraging messages before the show opens from graduates of the Drama Guild. Those encouraging messages are just another example of the lasting impression left on graduates of the Drama Guild. Connie Clineman teaches her cast, “For each one, reach one. For each one, teach one,” encouraging the older students to support and teach young cast mates. Melanmie Quinton says getting to know the Lower and Middle school students is one of her favorite aspects of being in the play. In the wise words of Harold Hill, “My little librarian, if you pile up enough tomorrows, you will find you have collected a lot of yesterdays. I don’t know about you, but I want to make today worth remembering.” See you at the show! The Music Man runs Friday, February 6 at 8p, Saturday, February 7 at 8p, and Sunday February 8 at 2p at the Thomasville Municipal Auditorium. General admission tickets are available now at Brookwood School, Jan’s Hallmark and Rayann’s Christian Bookstore in Thomasville. Reserved Seat Tickets are also available from Brookwood by calling 229-226-8070. - Emily M.
In The Garden with frost cloths and camellias
When the weather outside is in its third day of frigid temperatures and you think about gardening, that is all you do -just think about it! Wednesday night, while the wind was blowing and the temperature was dropping fast, my gardening friend and I were cozy inside, talking on the phone. She too had covered up a few plants, as had Paul and I, in our case, for the first time ever. Most years, when a hard freeze is predicted, we bring any precious treasure of a plant inside and then let Mother Nature have the rest. This year we wanted to save a giant, really gorgeous split-leaf philodendron. It was holding court in the corner of the breezeway garden - too big to move and too full of life not to try to preserve. My friend Jerreann Oliver had protected her plants with a covering called "Frost Cloth," something I did not know about. She said these cloths are available in many sizes, are lightweight, and particularly designed to protect plants from damaging cold - obviously superior to the ordinary bedsheets decorating my yard. She said Frost Cloths can be purchased at our big box stores. I also looked online and found the price was reasonable and varied according to size. Before another freeze, I too will have invested in some Frost Cloth. Jerreann added that before she returned to a warm house that afternoon, she had walked around her garden and cut some camellia blossoms to enjoy for a few days. THAT got my attention! OUR camellias don't compare with her and Don Oliver's prizewinners, but we had already observed that our four plants were the prettiest they have ever been. And now the bitter cold was about to turn our pretty camellias into mushy brown globs… No no no! I bid my friend good-night, telling her I was off to rescue some camellias. (I found out later she did not believe me.) I looked outside to see a gorgeous full moon rising and shimmering on the lake, the evening so clear that even the friendly stars who normally accompany her were brilliant. Soon I was wrapped up in my warmest coat and armed with a high beam flashlight. I picked up my clippers and set out into the wind and chill. I was aided by the bright moon, who I imagined approved of my mission to save beauty! The pink camellia was the most prolific it has ever been, and the seven-foot white one glowed in the moonlight much like a lighted Christmas tree. Nearby was my favorite plant, a camellia with too
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much majesty to be named "Wendy" and possessing large, clear red blooms centered by a golden stamen. It provided far more flowers than I could arrange inside, but I could not resist clipping some extra blooms, so perfect they were. And then, I got to "Frank Houser," a scrawny looking bush, but laden with fat buds. There was one HUGE bloom - just as showy as ever, and making me smile in satisfaction with my cold adventure! This camellia named "Frank Houser" hit the stage over ten years ago, and nothing, NOTHING, has surpassed it. At last year's camellia show it took the blue ribbon in category after category, and it was once in such demand that it was hard to buy, The photo is of the Frank Houser bloom I plucked Wednesday night from a slow and frigid death. This flower even elicits compliments from Paul McCollum, a man generally sparing of speech. If you too love camellias, you would enjoy visiting Massee Lane Gardens in Ft. Valley, GA, the home of the American Camellia Society. Call before you go to check on blooming conditions. Also, the North Georgia Camellia Society is having its annual competition February 21-22 at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. There will be exquisite flowers from all over the region competing in a juried show. The Thomasville Garden Clubs are not planning a show this year, but you can begin a show in your own yard by planting a few of these beauties. Camellias are very acclimated to our growing zone and require next to no care. The best time to plant them is from November to late February, also their showiest blooming period. If you buy fair sized plants, you will have almost instant gratification. You can find some plants at local nurseries, and Loch Laurel Nursery in Valdosta specializes in camellias. The owner, Mark Crawford, is a plant pathologist by profession. His hobby was growing camellias -a hobby that grew into a nursery! He gives you very specific, written instructions for planting, and his successful growing tips can produce blue ribbon flowers for you. Our "Wendy" and "Frank Houser" came from his nursery. Call before you go, or visit his nursery online at www.lochlaurelnursery.com. Believe me, camellias are truly easy to grow and a magical sight in the midst of winter. - Nancy M.
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Mardi Gras Comes to Pebble Hill On January 24, the Uno Hill Barn at Pebble Hill Plantation will be filled with krewes, masks and good ole' Blues music. The countdown to Mardi Gras in Thomasville has begun and the krewe at Hands on Thomas County is excited for another successful fundraiser. “We are thankful to live in a community that recognizes how important volunteer service is to the overall wellbeing and success of its people,” said Angela Kiminas, Executive Director. This will be the 11th year Hands on Thomas County has held their annual fundraiser and the 4th year with a Mardi Gras theme. “Everyone had such a great time with the theme in years past, so we have adopted it as the official party and fundraiser of HOTC,” said Kiminas. Nearly $60,000 was raised last year and the funds went to support volunteer and community service programs such as HOTC Day, Volunteer Week, Hands on Heroes, Manna Drops, Project Impact and more.
“Thomas County supports over 300 non-profits and countless events and programs that make our community a better place. It takes a lot of man, woman, and child power to make it all happen. HOTC exists to help support and facilitate just that. We help people find ways to be active participants in their own community,” said Kiminas. “The funds raised during this event do a great deal to help support our mission.” If you plan to attend this year’s event, be sure to come in true N’awlins fashion. There will be prizes for best mask and most creative krewe. There will also be a 50/50 cash raffle and an auction, which will include two round-trip Southwest Airline tickets, a 2-night stay at the Jekyll Island Club and a downtown shopping spree. Capers will provide Cajun-inspired food and The Blues Factor Band is back by popular demand. Tickets are $60/person and sponsorships start at $250 for 2 people. To purchase a ticket to Mardi Gras, visit www. handsonthomascounty.org or call (229) 226-5200. - Amanda S.
Join Junior Service League 'Under the Big Top' Thomasville’s Junior Service League will have its 20th Annual Preview Party and Bargain Bazaar on Friday, February 6 and Saturday, February 7 at the Exchange Club Fairgrounds. Proceeds from the event will benefit programs and services that help the children of Thomasville and Thomas County. The “Under the Big Top” themed Preview Party is perfect for ‘Villains wanting to shop the bazaar early. Tickets for the Preview Party cost $15 and will feature a catered dinner from Barberitos from 5:30-7:00p. Shopping and live and silent auctions will take place from 7:00-9:00p Patrons may also purchase armbands for $10 to take advantage of the beer and wine selections. Auction donations from local businesses are as follows: • A Getaway to Atlanta • The W Hotel Midtown Atlanta - 1 night stay • Tickets to Georgia Aquarium and World of Coke • Gift Certificate to The Varsity Restaurant • Gift Certificate to The Flying Biscuit • Savannah Moon Gift Certificate for 2 ($25 limit) • Two framed nature pictures from PS Art • Smallcakes - 4 cupcakes a month for a year! • 1 hour massage from Namsong • 4 Tickets to Pebble Hill with a private guided tour • Papillion Salon Gift Certificate • YMCA - 1 year family membership • YMCA - 1 week free for Gymnastics camp • JB Crumbs - Dinner for 4 once a month for a year • Clarity Salon - 1 Free Color Service ($65 value) and $25 gift certificate to Premier Designs Jewelry from Claire Westberg
• Thomasville Animal Hospital - 2 nights of boarding and bath for 1 pet (valued at $75) • Jack’s Service Center - 1 free oil change • Shelly Lane Photography - Portrait Session ($75 print credit and 5 images, valued at $500) • The Scoop and Deli - $25 gift certificate • La Fogata - gift certificate for 2 lunches up to $20 • Bacchus - $25 gift certificate • Coyoacan - $100 gift certificate • Papillon Salon and Spa - $30 pedicure and $35 gift certificate for shampoo, cut and style
A Safe Haven for Veterans' Hopes and Dreams I don’t mean to keep people two hours when I interview them, but upon finding folks engaged in amazing and wonderful pursuits, as I have throughout this region, I plead spellbound. To wit, last Friday outside of Quitman, at the Veteran’s “Hopes and Dreams” Riding Facility and Home at 6300 Madison Highway (take Rte. 84 east from Thomasville, then right at the courthouse traffic light in Quitman, then go straight at the road-split). The resolve, drive, and dedication of so many I meet leaves do-gooding in the rear view. This stuff is just remarkable. Since before the time of Christ, animals have been known to have therapeutic benefits for humans. For damaged horses, there are those humans we deem as the whisperers, who can intuit their pain and rehabilitate them back to better lives. The other way round works too. Hospitals acknowledge the benefits of using therapy dogs to visit patients. And, clearly the benefits redound to our minds, our psyches, and our emotional selves: pleasure trumping pain, touch translating balms tranquil, and silence empathically reconnecting broken pathways. It’s a tao (a way): life healing life. It’s undeserved mercy—harken—a la the grace of God. Here at Veterans Hopes and Dreams there are 22 horses, 7 dogs, and even 3 cats earning their keep. Yet, this is but one of the gifts granted to our traumatized veterans at “Hopes and Dreams.” Currently, they have residential space for sixteen at the lodge. Common areas with activity centers, television, counseling, and rehabbing are provided. And, because this place touts a 98% success rate, referrals are coming in from VA hospitals and mental health facilities across the country. I sat down with Jeff Bondy, Mike Randall, and Cindy Moore. They “lease” 170 acres. This land, an old golf course, and the well-appointed lodge have been very reasonably proffered by Ferell Scruggs, Jr. to assist getting some our soldiers back to functional. And, the Vets here are not generally older, as we might imagine, they are younger: 20’s to 40’s. They tend to be suffering from head-wounds, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and PTSD, but it’s not just having witnessed the carnages and the crimes of war, or having held your buddies as they died. Here, these ladies and gentlemen are not anymore the same people who left America to serve their tours of duty. It’s all about coping with the new reality, for what has been done cannot be undone. Both penetrative objects and percussive impacts have
The usual stay is ninety days, but I was assured no Vet is kicked out prematurely. Why? Each day 22 U.S. veterans and 1 active duty soldier commit suicide. As Mike Randall looked me in the eye and told me, “We do not leave anyone behind.” It is an old motto; here the aim is to keep it. So, I was surprised to hear they accept no government monies. This place is all privately supported. So, yes, I will forward to you their request for donations: financial and/or material and/or volunteers, for around me an operating ranch functions as I visit. Their 2015 fundraising goal is $500,000. I met two residents Kelly and Matt. With Kelly, I witness the example of so many who have been severely traumatized and turn to alcohol or substances to cope with the day-mares, the nightmares, and the life-mares. And, for the night or the short-term such measures do seem to help. Long term though, our society has learned the hard lesson that this is bad and even further debilitating medicine. Matt has shrapnel, his head violated from an IED detonation in Afghanistan that killed three in his personnel transport vehicle. He, the gunner on top, was sent whirling away, unconscious, careening like a leaf ’s stem into the wind by the explosion. Both Kelly and Matt now have a time of solace and refuge, but they will not be allowed to linger indefinitely. This is a mission with a goal: “healing the wounds of war the world does not see.” Every donation to “Hopes and Dreams” must yield results, such is the motivation behind this 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Our Veterans do not pay for their treatment, they have paid already. The founders want this operation to grow. The demand for their services is great, and 100% of our support and contributions benefit the veterans. Didn’t I say it up front? Remarkable stuff. I thank Jeff, Mike, and Cindy for granting me those two hours. It was a privilege to witness such dedication and cause, to see their good work, and to write this article. Hopes and Dreams Riding Facility (Founded 2008) 6300 Madison Highway Quitman, Ga. 31643. Let them hear from you too. Office 229-263-4773 www.hopesanddreamsdirector@gmail.com. - Benjamin G.
• Wash N Go - 2 full service gift certificates • Aveda Dream State - Hair cut and color • Hawaii Snow & Deli - 1 sandwich, side and drink Tickets for the Preview Party may be purchased from any JSL member or from Mary Madison downtown or S & B on East Jackson Street. There will be only 500 tickets sold, and Kimberly Hand, JSL Member, said that tickets are likely to sell out, so buy them early. On both Friday night and Saturday, donated gently used items may be purchased. The tickets for Friday night's dinner entitles patrons to shop early. Tickets for shopping from 7:30-11:30p on Saturday provides patrons a ticket to shop the upscale yard sale event. Categories of items for purchase include: Men’s, Women’s, Accessories, Children’s, Toys, Furniture, Home Goods, Electronics, Holiday, Sporting Goods and Women’s Boutique. Folks wanting to donate items can do so up until the week of the event. If you are interested in donating any gently used items, please contact any JSL member for pick-up or contact Holli Rossi (hthompson@thomas. k12.ga.us) who can also arrange pickup. Donated items are eligible for a tax write off. For more information, please visit www.jslthomasville.com
• Flooring America rug valued at $150 • Thomasville Flower Shop - $50 gift certificate
damaged these brains. What has been done must be directly confronted, honestly recognized, strategically reconciled, and pragmatically released.
- Denise P.
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Dance Card. January 16, 23, 24, 30, 31, 5 Taste of Thomasville Food Tour 3 hour, 1.4 mile walking/tasting tour feat. Thomasville’s culinary best; 10:30a – 1p $40 pp, advanced tickets required Now offering evening tours! visit www. tasteofthomasvillefoodtour.com for info.
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The Truth About Twinkie Pie by Kat Yeh. This Southern middle reader novel was touching and funny; 12-year-old GIgi (short for Galileo Galilei, of course) narrates The Truth About Twinkie Pie, and it's her voice readers will love. After Gigi and her sister Didi land a million dollars from a national cooking contest, they leave the trailer parks of South Carolina for a life off the coast of New York, where Gigi can graduate from high school -- something her older sister never did. It's rare to find a middle reader book with such a sense of place; Southerners old and young will sympathize with the sisters as they try to adjust to a new life away from Southern familiarities and customs. Author Kat Yeh has written a remarkably realistic -- while still extremely funny -- book about growing up and discovering who you are, and the relationship she creates between Gigi and her sister will keep young readers turning the pages until they discover the end. A fun bonus? Didi's Southern-inspired recipes are sprinkled throughout the book and will give middle readers a fun way to interact even when the final chapter has been read. (The Truth About Twinkie Pie releases January 27.)
January 18 January Jazz Thomasville Center for the Arts, 600 East Washington Street; 4p Live performance by local and regional musicians sponsored by Thomas University. 227-6964 January 19 HOTC MLK Jr. Service Day Various locations; 9a-12p Make it a day on, not a day off… volunteer! Community service projects will be organized throughout the city. 226-5200 January 22 Annual Kiwanis Pancake Supper Thomasville High School Cafeteria, 315 South Hansell Street; 5-7p $6 pp. 393-7572 YEP Kickoff Building 209, 209 West Remington Avenue; 5:30-7:30p; Young Entreprenuer & Professional's networking event hosted by the Chamber of Commerce. 226-9600 January 24 HOTC Mardi Gras Fundraiser Uno Hill Barn, Pebble Hill Plantation, 1251 US Hwy 319 S; 7-11p Cajun-inspired food, drinks, music & dancing, auctions, and raffles. 226-5200 January 27 Letter Writing Club The Bookshelf, 126 South Broad Street; 10-11a The Bookshelf provides stationery, pens, and stamps -all you need to bring is your address book! 228-7767 February 3 Thomasville Beer Club meeting Liam's of Thomasville, 113 East Jackson Street Craft beer brewing, education, and tasting. 226-9944 February 6 "Under the Big Top" Thomasville Fairgrounds; Dinner 5:30p, live & silent auctions 7-9p Annual Junior Service League bargain bazaar preview party. $15 672-0857
I closed out 2014 with 65 books read in one year; I'm not sure that's a record or anything -so many of our customers are more well-read and read with more frequency -- but it's a number I'm pleased with. I'm also grateful that even during the store's busiest season, I managed to read about a book a week; not too shabby, if I do say so myself.
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ACROSS 1 Head growth 6 Former USSR's secret police 9 Winged 13 Doldrums 14 Compass point 15 Waitress on "Cheers" 16 Stationery, buckhead bottles, Susquehanna drinkware, handbags, throws & Oddballs postcards 17 Hearing part 18 Gentry 19 Asian nation 20 Axing 22 Umpire 23 Can metal 24 Aurora 25 A way from shore 27 Missing early president from the Downtown cross streets 29 Resulting 33 Sports official 34 Not amateur 35 Excessive 36 Cabdriver 39 Thai 40 Ability 41 Organization concerned with civil liberties (abbr.) 42 Like a tamale 43 Female sheep 44 Pistons home
46 Cowboy John 49 Zip 50 Rock 51 Expire 53 Does 56 Bank worker 58 Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 59 Bumpy 61 Cation 62 Result 63 Objects 64 Compass point 65 Pig pens 66 Opp. of future 67 Garner 68 Dorm dwellers
DOWN 1 Slave 2 Inability to recognize objects 3 Away from shore 4 Destroy 5 Bro's sibling 6 Sites of soccer injuries and sights in cypress swamps 7 Chew 8 Deficiency disease 9 Cause of sickness 10 Den 11 Parlay
12 Great Barrier down-under 15 Impressionist painter 20 Hospital (abbr.) 21 Taboo 24 TV award 26 Three strikes in a row or a really bad show 28 Red hair color 30 Three 31 Football assoc. 32 Hair stuff 34 Caress 36 Blackguard 37 Expert 38 Bacon-lettuce-tomato sandwich 39 Summing up to be 40 Played in the water 42 "____ and go seek" (game) 43 Vessel 45 Swearwords 47 Mythical animal 48 Turned out 50 Civet cat's cousin 52 Sari 53 Leaky faucet noise 54 Small particle 55 Fees 57 Ear part 58 Preposition 60 Greenwich Mean Time 62 Escudo
classifieds Newly renovated, upstairs, urban living, downtown Thomasville. 222 Fletcher St. 1 bedroom/1 bath $775/mo • 1 Studio $650/mo Includes washer and dryer. For more info call 229-228-4181 or stop by Relics
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The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion. I adored Graeme Simsion's The Rosie Project, so I was excited to dive into the newly-released sequel last month. And although I don't think The Rosie Effect is quite as well done as its predecessor, I loved getting to see Simsion really explore the depths of his quirky main character, Don Tillman. In the new novel, TIllman -- with his characteristic science-guy demeanor -- must have his most difficult challenge yet: the challenge of becoming a parent. His personality lends itself to some cringe-inducing moments, and the preciseness of his character is the book's strongest characteristic. I found the book's descriptions and stories about Don's wife Rosie to be pretty weak and not entirely accurate with the character we were introduced to in the first novel, but overall, this is a fun sequel certainly worth reading. Redeployment by Phil Klay. This book of short stories was the winner of the National Book Award in 2014, and it's easy to see why. The book is raw and devastating and real, but author Phil Klay also injects moments of dark humor into his stories, and the effect is an entirely readable collection of stories. Klay is a former U.S. Marine, so his stories feel achingly true-to-life, and as someone with little to no knowledge about America's recent conflicts with Iraq and Afghanistan, I found the book to be terribly important. I intended to read just a few stories to familiarize myself with the work, but I found myself needing to read the entire book; it just felt important. I'm tempted to say this book is one everyone needs to read, but since I know that's setting my expectations high, I'd at least tell you to read a couple of Klay's stories; his voice is impeccable. (Warning, if it needs to be said: This book is full of graphic language and wartime content, so keep that in mind when searching for the next book on your nightstand.) The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. Okay, everyone, we've found the next Gone Girl. Paula Hawkins' new novel, The Girl on the Train, is fast-paced and smart; it's well-written and gasp-inducing. The book follows Rachel, a young 30-something who takes the same commuter train into London every day. As she stares out the window, she imagines the lives of the people she sees and uses the stories to escape the disappointments she faces in her own life. Then one day, she sees something that startles her to her core and changes everything. We've heard The Girl on the Train compared to Gone Girl and Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window, and both comparisons are spot on. I read this novel in less than 24 hours; once you start, you may not be able to stop. The pacing is brilliant and the narrative is pretty close to perfection, I think. - Annie B. The Bookshelf