Hungry Tri-Fest fans might need umbrella: Breakfast Lions Club event gets going today at lunch hour

Posted by admin on Apr 15, 2011 | 0 comments

The weather forecast isn’t looking that great for today’s opening of the 24th-annual Tri-Fest hosted by the Henderson Breakfast Lions Club, so keep an eye on the skies.

Friday’s high temperature is forecast at 67 degrees with an 80 percent chance for precipitation. Thunderstorms also are forecast.

If inclement weather should cancel tonight’s Tri-Fest fireworks show, which is set to take place at 9 p.m. on the riverfront, it will be rescheduled for 9 p.m. Saturday.

The festival, which runs through Sunday, is packed with activities including food booths, carnival rides, live music and other entertainment, athletic competitions, a poker run, canned food drive and socializing.

Here is the schedule:

Today

(All music events on Central Park stage)

n 11 a.m. — Food booths open along Main Street

n Noon — Carnival rides open along Main Street

n 5:30-6:15 p.m. — Music: The Vincent Brothers

n 7-8:45 p.m. — Music: Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show

n 7-8:30 p.m. — Henderson Tennis Club Spring Swing, Water Street Tennis Complex. Ages: 4-14. Sign-up deadline: Thursday, April 14, Jennifer Holland at jholland_htc@hotmail.com.

n 9 p.m. — Fireworks show, downtown riverfront.

n 9:30-10 p.m. — Music: Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show

Saturday

n 7 a.m. — Registration opens, Breakfast Lions Club/American Red Cross Town & Country Bike Ride (distances of 12 miles, 36 miles or 62.5 miles, Audubon Mill Park, staggered start between 7-8:30 a.m.; Registration forms available at the Red Cross or www.hendersontrifest.org.

n 9 a.m. — 21st-Annual Breakfast Lions Club/Habitat for Humanity 5K Classic Run & Walk, Central Park (Elm Street side). Information/registration: www.hendersonhabitat.org. Entry fee is $20 per individual or a team rate of $15 each for teams of eight or more by the early registration deadline of Monday, April 11.

n 9 a.m. — Breakfast Lions Club/New Hope Animal Rescue 4th-Annual Tri-Fest Poker Run, Ohio Valley Financial Group Parking Lot. Entry fee is $10 per hand. Sign-up information is available at www.hendersontrifest.org, or you can call Donald Ploss at 826-5137. Sign-in time is 9 a.m. and starting time is 10 a.m. Last bike out is 11:30 a.m. and last bike in is 2:30 p.m. First place is $300.

n 10 a.m. — Henderson County UK Alumni/Christian Community Outreach Canned Food Drive, Central Park.

n 10 a.m. — Henderson County Lady Colonels Softball Tournament. Location: North Middle School softball field. Games: 10 a.m. — Evansville Mater Dei vs. Henderson Co.; Noon — Greenwood High School vs. Terre Haute South; 2 p.m. — Runner-up game; 4 p.m. — Championship game.

n Noon — Volunteer and Information Center Cornhole Tournament, Central Park, registration starts at 11 a.m. There is a discount for early registration (prior to day of tournament.) Entry fee is $25 (non-refundable) before April 16 and $30 the day of tournament. Prizes will be awarded to winners, first runners-up and second runners-up. For information, contact VIC at 831-2273.

n 11 a.m. — Food booths open along Main Street

n 11 a.m. — Elementary School Competition, Central Park

n Noon — Carnival rides open along Main Street

n Noon — Tri-State International Brotherhood of Magicians — Ring 56, Central Park, Main Stage

n 1-1:30 p.m. — David Taylor Puppet Show, Central Park, Main Stage

n 1:30 p.m. — Elvis Competition, Semi-Final Round, Central Park, Main Stage

n 3:15-3:45 p.m. — Music: Ray Ligon

n 4:30 p.m. — Elvis Competition, Final Round, Central Park, Main Stage

n 5:15-5:45 p.m. — Music: Theresa Flahardy

n 5:30-6:30 p.m. — Rawhide & Ruffles Western Dancers, Intersection, Second & Main

n 6-7 p.m. — Music: Blend

n 7:30-10 p.m. — Music: The Duke Boys

Sunday

n 10 a.m. — Community Church Service hosted by Niagara United Methodist Church with Pastor Rick Nollmann, Central Park, Main Stage

n Noon — Food booths, carnival rides open along Main Street

n 1:30-2:30 p.m. — American Heart Association Jump Rope for Heart, Ohio Valley Financial Group Parking Lot

n 1-1:45 p.m. — Music: The Vocalystics

n 2-2:45 p.m. — Music: River City

n 3-3:30 p.m. — Music: Morgan Book

Kerouac short film part of PBS series

Posted by admin on Apr 11, 2011 | 0 comments

A short film about legendary 1950s author Jack Kerouac’s life in Florida is debuting at the Sarasota Film Festival this weekend. And it will be part of a new PBS series coming this fall that features stories about Florida’s cultural history.

“Jack Kerouac Slept Here” recounts Kerouac’s time in Orlando at a home that is now a retreat for writers. It also visits the modest St. Petersburg home where Kerouac died in 1969 at age 47 after years of alcohol abuse.

“We stop at the Flamingo Bar in St. Pete that was a frequent place where Kerouac had a drink,” says Gus Mollasis, narrator and co-producer of the film.

Kerouac, the voice of the Beat Generation spoken word artists, is best known for “On the Road.” He achieved notoriety in his lifetime but came to a sad end.

“Jack Kerouac Slept Here” was co-written, directed and produced by Mark Reese, son of the late baseball legend Pee Wee Reese who played for the Dodgers in the 1940s and ’50s.

Reese, a filmmaker who divides his time between Los Angeles and Venice, was writer/producer of ESPN’s five-part series “The Brooklyn Dodgers: The Original America’s Team.” His documentary “Boys in Winter” has won film festival awards. He also adapted Roger Khan’s classic book “The Boys of Summer” into a feature film project.

Reese says the Kerouac film is the pilot episode for a series, “Diamonds Along the Highway,” that will debut on Tampa’s WEDU, Channel 3, in the fall.

“The title comes from a Kerouac line about finding little gems along the highway and we’re finding little gems of stories in Florida,” says Mollasis, who has hosted a Sarasota cable show devoted to movies.

Episodes would include a look back at Gibsonton’s connection to carnival sideshow performers; Jacksonville’s connection to silent era films; Ybor City’s rich cultural history; Jackie Gleason’s connection to Miami; the Greek history of Tarpon Springs; the wonders of Alligator Alley; and Ernest Hemmingway’s influence on Key West.

Reese, who created the series, says he was inspired by a series that airs on the Los Angeles PBS station, “California Gold,” which explores that state’s culture.

“I thought that Florida could use a series like this with stories that are a little off the beaten path,” he says. Mollasis and Reese are bankrolling the project and will give WEDU the first six episodes, but they also are seeking underwriters. The series is expected to air on Sunday nights following “Masterpiece.”

The Sarasota Film Festival gets under way Friday at the Sarasota Opera House and runs through April 17. Celebrity guests include Geena Davis and Christopher Plummer. The Kerouac film is among 180 that will be screened, most of them at the Regal Hollywood 20, 1993 Main St. For details, tickets and screenings, go to www.sarasotafilmfestival.com.

VICTORY PARTY: Tarpon Springs solider Nick Albini, 28, has been a standout player on Discovery Channel’s “Out of the Wild: Venezuela” survival series. And a watch party is planned for the finale tonight.

The series, which began in February, follows Albini and eight teammates as they try to reach civilization after being dropped off on the top of a mountain in Venezuela.

Albini, who served tours in Iraq and is now training for Special Forces, will be guest of honor at the Thirsty Marlin, 1023 Florida Ave., Palm Harbor, from 6:30 to 8:30 tonight.

Hefty bid throws a monkey wrench into fairgrounds plan

Posted by admin on Apr 8, 2011 | 0 comments

Carnival Controversy Has Me Asking Questions Columnist Amber Woods explains how she is taking readers’ questions to Aberdeen’s administration. What would you like to know about the pop-up carnival?

Posted by admin on Apr 7, 2011 | 0 comments

The pop-up carnival on E. Bel Air Avenue sure has people talking.

The peculiar location, near the train tracks and one of Aberdeen’s central roads, has caused concern among members of the community.

I reached out to Aberdeen City Manager Doug Miller this morning, who I suspect is out of the office, since both an email and voicemail went without reply.

I’m on a mission to get answers to the many questions I’ve been hearing on Patch and around the city: why was a permit approved for a carnival which could be in a potentially dangerous location for children?

How is property-owner and former State Senator Art Helton involved and is he benefiting financially from the event?

Who is paying for the extra police presence at the carnival? Taxpayers or the church (Word of Faith International Outreach) who is sponsoring the event?

Since there are local business-owners who feel their valuable store-front parking is being used by carnival patrons, it also begs the question, why wasn’t adequate parking provided for the carnival?

When you hear about why Word of Faith International recruited the carnival (they plan to use the proceeds to help children in Haiti by providing bathrooms in schools and books, bibles and other school supplies) it’s difficult to argue the good will being done.

However, if just one child were to suffer a tragedy on the neighboring railway or road, would the fundraiser really be worth it?

What I’ve gathered from people in the community is that many residents wouldn’t tolerate any justification the city’s administration may provide about why we are willing to exchange the safety of our own children for the aid of children in a devastated country.

But then I have to wonder, if there is such protest and disgust about the way the event was planned, approved and carried out, then why has the carnival been so well-attended?

Maybe because the Word of Faith International ministry has a large following, and they’re coming out in droves? Or perhaps because the city’s faith-based community is supporting the cause, despite the controversial location?

Or maybe it’s not that big of a deal to Aberdeen residents, and I’m just hearing from the “squeaky wheels” who have political agendas and think Art Helton is always up to no good, or that Aberdeen’s current administration is simply being careless.

I’m not making any judgments until I hear the facts (which, if I can wrangle out of someone, I will subsequently provide to you in a news story).

Until then, hang on, this is sure to be a dizzying ride.

2011 Reithoffer shows Route Orange and blue Units

Posted by admin on Apr 2, 2011 | 1 comment

3/31/2011 – 5/15/2011	Spring Events	VA, MD, PA	Blue
3/31/2011 – 5/22/2011	Spring Events	Washington D.C. area Washington, DC	Orange
5/19/2011 – 5/30/2011	Bucks County fair	Langhorne, PA	Blue
5/19/2011 – 5/30/2011	Kings County Fair	Brooklyn, NY	Blue
5/27/2011 – 6/4/2011	Boonsboro Festival	Boonsboro, MD	Orange
6/9/2011 – 6/18/2011	Lower Providence Fair	3199 Ridge Pike Eagleville, PA	Blue
6/9/2011 – 6/19/2011	Staten Island Mail	Staten Island Staten Island, NY	Blue
6/9/2011 – 6/19/2011	Youth Sports Festival	N. Brunswick, NJ	Orange
6/21/2011 – 6/26/2011	Northeast Fair	Pittston, PA	Blue
6/28/2011 – 7/10/2011	St. Michaels Annual Fair	Levittown, PA	Orange
6/29/2011 – 7/10/2011	Brockton Fair	Brockton, MA	Blue
7/12/2011 – 7/17/2011	Freedom Fest Fair	Allentown, NJ	Orange
7/12/2011 – 7/17/2011	Jefferson County Fair	Watertown Fairgrounds Watertown, NY	Blue
7/16/2011 – 7/23/2011	Allegany County Fair	Cumberland, MD	Blue
7/19/2011 – 7/23/2011	WV Interstate Fair	Mineral Wells, WV	Orange
7/19/2011 – 7/24/2011	Clinton County Fair	Plattsburgh, NY	Blue
7/20/2011 – 7/24/2011	Harborfest	Downtown Oswego – on the lake Oswego, NY	Blue
7/25/2011 – 7/30/2011	Kimberton Fair	Kimberton, PA	Blue
7/31/2011 – 8/6/2011	Clearfield County Fair	Clearfield, PA	Orange
8/1/2011 – 8/6/2011	Clear Spring Firemans Festival	Clear Springs, MD	Orange
8/5/2011 – 8/14/2011	New Jersey State Fair	Sussex Co. Farm & Horse Show Augusta, NJ	Blue
8/12/2011 – 8/20/2011	State Fair of West Virginia	Lewisburg, WV	Orange
8/15/2011 – 8/20/2011	Delaware County Fair	Walton, NY	Blue
8/16/2011 – 8/21/2011	Altamont Fair	Altamont, NY	Blue
8/27/2011 – 9/5/2011	Champlain Valley Fair	Essex Junction Essex Junction, VT	Orange
8/30/2011 – 9/5/2011	Fonda Fair	Fonda, NY	Blue
8/31/2011 – 9/5/2011	Schaghticoke Fair	Schaghticoke, NY	Blue
9/8/2011 – 9/11/2011	Hebron Harvest Fair	Hebron, CT	Orange
9/8/2011 – 9/18/2011	Pennsylvania State Fair	, PA	Blue
9/16/2011 – 9/24/2011	Great Frederick Fair	Frederick, MD	Orange
9/19/2011 – 9/24/2011	Davidson County Fair	Lexington, NC	Orange
9/23/2011 – 10/1/2011	Bloomsburg Fair	Bloomsburg, PA	Blue
9/29/2011 – 10/8/2011	Cleveland County Fair	Shelby, NC	Orange
10/6/2011 – 10/16/2011	Georgia National Fair	Perry, GA	Blue
10/10/2011 – 10/16/2011	Piedmont Interstate Fair	Spartenburg, SC	Orange
10/20/2011 – 10/30/2011	Western Carolina State Fair	Aiken, SC	Orange
10/20/2011 – 10/30/2011	Pensacola Interstate Fair	Pensacola, FL	Blue
11/3/2011 – 11/13/2011	Peanut Festival	Dothan, AL	Blue
11/10/2011 – 11/13/2011	St. Maurice Catholic Fest	Dania Beach, FL	Orange
11/17/2011 – 11/27/2011	Broward County Fair	Pompano Beach, FL	Orange

Western Michigan Fair Association receives $10,000 grant

Posted by admin on Feb 22, 2011 | 0 comments

The Western Michigan Fair Association has received a $10,000 grant from the Midland-based Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation for assisting with the Mason County Fairgrounds grandstand roof replacement project. The grant has been designated specifically for materials, labor, equipment and supervision to install steel columns, roof framing and deck. The association is reviewing bids received for the project estimated to cost about $165,000. If enough funds are raised, the plans are to have the work completed in time for the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association Michigan Energy Fair this summer.

Western Michigan Fair Association President Kirk Myers thanked the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation in behalf of the citizens of Mason County. The foundation was established by Eda U. Gerstacker in 1957 in memory of her husband. Mrs. Gerstacker died in 1975 and her family members continue to serve as officers and trustees of the foundation.

This is the second grant received for the grandstand roof project. Consumers Energy recently announced a $15,000 grant for the same project. Arrangements for a tax deductible donation for the project or the capital campaign can be made through the Ludington Area Community Foundation.