Fun in the Sun

My dear, dear misguided friends Joe and Judy keep emailing me pictures from Florida. They are trying very hard to convince me that they are actually having a good time this winter. This picture arrived yesterday and it was accompanied by a little story of a day trip to St. Johns complete with fun, sun, and mimosas. Bless their dear thoughtful little hearts.

The gig is up my friends. I know all about Photoshop and I suspect you are doctoring your pictures to include sun, smiles and tans. I choose to believe that you are actually cold and lonely.

Listen Up!

Who is that dark haired beauty featured in this weeks Country Weekly Magazine music downloads? Well, it is our own lovely and talented Ms. Tabatha Rowland and her band Southern Fryd. The article calls Tabatha, "one of the hottest new country artists to come along in quite a while". I have to agree. Pick up the February 9 issue of County Weekly for the full story. You can also visit Tabatha's website for more information on Tabatha, Southern Fryd, and their latest album, Avoid Heat and Flame.

Thank you to my friend Pat for sharing this article with me.

Congrats Ms. Tabatha!

More Good News for Grand Rivers

Congratulations to Lighthouse Landing Sailing School and Sailing Instructor Chip Riddle. Lighthouse Landing Sailing School was recognized by the American Sailing Associating as one of the Top Twenty Sailing Schools for 2008. Lighthouse Landing Sailing Instructor Chip Riddle was named an ASA Outstanding Instructor for 2008. The American Sailing Association is the leading authority on sailing instruction and sailing schools in the United States. Lighthouse Landing Resort and Marina is located on Kentucky Lake in Grand Rivers and has been helping people fulfill their dream of learning to sail since 1977.

Thank you Marty and Brenda for sharing your love of sailing with thousands by developing Lighthouse Landing Resort and Marina here in Grand Rivers.

Thank you Chip and Martha (aka - best cook in the whole world) for making Grand Rivers your home and for being part of our little community.

Oh, and Marty - I borrowed these pictures from your website. Hope you don't mind.

Dinner with Friends

The Chamber Annual Dinner meetinng was last night. The event is open to the community and the meal is free. Patti's donates the meat and Chamber members bring the sides. You don't need a special ticket, or have to go through security checks, or plan what designer you will wear.

We had over 80 people attend. This may not sound like a big crowd, but it is over 20 percent of our population. Think about sitting down to dinner with over 20 percent of your town. And think about knowing everyone in the room.

The VIPs attending our Inaugural event included Representative Mike Cherry and County Judge Executive Chris Lasher. They are both wonderful supporters of Grand Rivers and we appreciate everything they do for us.

Mike brought a letter from the Governor congratulating us on our Southern Living Awards.

Thank you to Patti's, Green Turtle Bay, Lake Realty and Livingston County Coperative Extension - and to the many individuals who brought dishes.

Congratulations to the 2009 Chamber Board and Officers

President: Mary Ann O'Leary

Vice President: Dennice Lindsay

Secretary: Pat Gorbett

Treasure: Bill Cullen

2009 Board of Directors -

Brenda Lady

Mike Tullar

Jim Doom

Pat Jones

Congratulations to the 2008 Chamber Award Winners -

Volunteer of the Year: Dianne Bingham

Member of the Year: Bill and Sara Minihan and Variety!

Presidents Award: Hazel Demry

Mayor Tom spoke and shared with us his thoughts on the strengths of our community - service to friends, service to community. It really does happen here and it really does work.

Pick up todays Paducah Sun

Thank you to Shelley Byrne and the Paducah Sun for the great article on Grand Rivers. The article includes quotes from Shelley's interview with Southern Living Travel Editor Carolanne Roberts. Pick up your copy of todays Paducah Sun and see what Carolanne says about Grand Rivers.

Hot and Cold

Cold. The weather yesterday and today. I went to visit our friends at WCBL Radio yesterday morning and stopped on the dam to take a picture of the steam rising off of Kentucky Lake. It reminds me of flying above the clouds. The temperatures were in the single digits. The good news is the forecast for tomorrow is 40 degrees and sunny!

Hot. After WCBL coffee talk with Chris, I met Miss Laura K at Main Street Java in Benton for lattes and breakfast. We have contracted with Laura to be the Project Manager for the New Grand Rivers Visitors Guide. She will do all advertising sales, and graphic design, and this New Guide is going to be hot!

A Trip Around the World Begins in Grand Rivers

Doug Sterret and the crew of the 37-foot Tartan Alikkai, sailed out of Grand Rivers yesterday to begin their 18-month voyage around the world. You can read the story on Leslie Moore’s blog

You can follow their trip at voyageofaliikai

I'll add the Voyage link to my blog "Sites I Visit" so we can follow them as they sail around the world. Bon Voyage Alikkai!

"Hee Haw" Tribute Show Opens This Friday

The fourth season of shows (Yes the fourth season - time really does fly ) begins this weekend at the Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers, KY with a tribute to "Hee Haw" and a special offer for local patrons. Local patrons will be given a "buy one get one free" offer for the opening weekend. I’m going, and I have a couple of the buy one get one free coupons in my office if anyone wants to pick one up. They are good for this weekend only.

I didn’t have a true appreciation for the original show when it was in syndication, but my dad loved it so in our house we watched it. He would have loved this tribute production. I’m taking my son this weekend and sharing with him this memory of my dad. A small remembrance of my own.

The production features a six-piece band and three singers performing the hits of such artists as Buck Owens, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Charlie Pride, George Strait, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash and Floyd Cramer. The band for this show is amazing. The Guitar playing genius Thomas Michaels is featured in several of the songs and his voice and talent shines in this production.

Comedy sketches include jokes from the cornfield, Grandpa Jones and a tribute to Minnie Pearl.

The show opens Friday and will run through March 27th. See you at the show!

Peacekeeper Arrives

It seems friends Frank & Cindy and the Peacekeeper have arrived for a visit at Joe and Judy's house in Cape Coral, FL.
I checked the Cape Coral weather and the forecast calls for sunshine and 70 degree weather for the next couple of days. I plan to call them Friday, but only if they get rain.

Dinner and a Talent Show

If you weren't in Grand Rivers last night then you missed an amazing night at the Badgett Playhouse. Last night was the Fourth Annual Grand Rivers Talent Show. All of the performers were outstanding. My husband was a judge and it was not an easy task to select a winner when the entire night was one winning performance after another. Wow.Wow. Wow.

Several of the performers mentioned they will be performing in the "You Can Be A Star" Talent Search at the Kentucky Opry tonight. If you missed them last night in Grand Rivers, you should go see them at the Opry Talent Search tonight.

Of course we started the evening with dinner at our house. Seems like our friends always gather in my kitchen. Which is fine with me. Lord knows I don't use it.

It was another great weekend in Grand Rivers.

You Know You Live in a Small Town when...

I love the small-towness of this scenario. So, I'm at my office yesterday afternoon and I receive a package from a printing company shipped UPS. Well, the polite and darling UPS man noticed that he also had a package on the truck for my husband at my home address. He brought it in to my office with him and asked if anyone would be home or should he leave it with me. Yes. The UPS man knows my home address and my husbands name.

Thank You Evansville Courier Press

Thank you to Karen Phelps and the Evanville Courier Press for this great article on Grand Rivers. You can read the full story here -

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2009/jan/05/big-accolades-come-small-ky-towns-way/

Calling All Talent

This Friday, January 9, is the Fourth Annual Grand Rivers Talent Show at the Badgett Playhouse. Join us in Grand Rivers and showcase your musical talent onstage or cheer for your favorite performer from the audience (I'll be cheering from the audience). The winner will receive a cash prize of $200. Plus the opportunity to perform on the opening night of the 2009 Variety! Music, Memories and More Show.
General Admission Seating. Call the Box office to order tickets at 888-362-4223.
Visit the Variety website at www.grandriversvariety.com for entry form and information.