“A Feast of Funk & Soul Food” set for November

LIVE OAK, Fla. — A Feast of Funk & Soul Food is a new event taking place at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park Nov. 18-19. It is a combination of funky music, delicious soul food and Florida breweries joining forces to raise money for local charities Love Inc., Hope Notes and Suwannee Spirit Kids Music Camp, presenting the perfect opportunity to come together with friends and family, giving thanks and love the weekend before Thanksgiving. Headlining the event is Earth Wind & Power, a tribute to the music of Earth Wind & Fire performed by The Nth Power and featuring artists Jennifer Hartswick, Skerik, Farnell Newton, James Casey, Daniel Sadownick and Brian Thomas. The weekend will also feature music from The Nth Power, Jennifer Hartswick Band, The Roosevelt Collier Band, The Groove Orient, Leisure Chief and Scott Campbell Band. Equally exciting is the addition of a food program headlined by five internationally acclaimed chefs including James Beard award winner  Art Smith, (cookbook author and former private chef for Oprah Winfrey), Harrison Sapp (owner of Southern Soul BBQ, St. Simons Island and Live Oak), Chris “Shaggy” Davis (New Orleans Crawfish Boil King), John Minas (The Edison, Tallahassee) and Samuel Forbes Edwards (Edwards Brothers BBQ). Foodies can purchase tickets that include meals prepared by each of these culinary legends. For each ticket purchased, $2 will be donated to Hope Notes and Suwannee Kids Music Camps. Hope Notes is a new park led program that raises money to provide instruments for local school music departments. For ticket info and more, go to www.feastoffunk.com. For additional information, please call the SOSMP at 386-364-1683, email spirit@musicliveshere.com or go to www.musicliveshere.com.

 

Eagle Lake reopens after being closed since June 27

JASPER, Fla. — Eagle Lake Fish Management Area in Hamilton County has reopened, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officials. Eagle Lake is a 200 acre, fertile lake with abundant shad forage. Steep sides, a maze of narrow cuts with points, sandbars, and cattails in the coves characterize the lake. There is a lime rock boat ramp near the entrance of the lake. Largemouth bass fishing is best in spring; bluegill, redear sunfish and channel catfish are best in the summer; black crappie and stocked sunshine bass are best in fall and winter. Only trolling motors may be operated on Eagle Lake, although gasoline motors may be attached to the boat.

 

NAMIWalk fundraiser steps off Saturday morning

MOULTRIE — The Third Annual NAMIWalks Southwest Georgia benefiting the National Alliance on Mental Illness will be on Saturday, Oct. 15, on the Colquitt County Courthouse Square. Check-in and family-friendly fun and entertainment will begin at 8:30 a.m., with step-off for the 5k walk at 10. The Walk will be held rain or shine. “Our Walk is becoming a tradition for so many Southwest Georgians living with a mental health condition, their loved ones, family, and friends, and our communities,” said Shannon Bell, NAMI Moultrie president. “Everyone gets the opportunity to show their support for NAMI by raising much needed funds and awareness. NAMIWalks Southwest Georgia has grown into a festival-like celebration.” Proceeds from the event are channeled into NAMI Moultrie and NAMI Albany’s mission to support, educate, and advocate until there is a cure for severe and persistent mental illness.

 

Go Light Up Your World event to help youth make better choices

TIFTON, Ga. – The Tift County Commission on Children and Youth (TC3Y) is spearheading Go Light Up Your World, a community-wide event where luminaries are placed around the county to show support for providing safe  and caring environments for children.

The commission is a nonprofit collaborative that works to improve the conditions for children, families and communities by working with the community to address serious challenges that face children and their families. They are asking community agencies, businesses, clubs, faith-based organizations and individuals to light white luminaries along the street in front of their properties by 7 p.m. on Oct. 26. 

For more information or to register contact Lillie McEntyre at (229) 388-1000 or tc3y@friendlycity.net

 

Movies reel in charitable donations 

VALDOSTA, Ga. — Following Sept. 11, 2001, movie theatres did their part by raising money to help the victims’ families. Fifteen years later, the Georgia Theatre Company continues this legacy with its annual Cinema for a Cause, with proceeds going to Valdosta Police Department Shop with a Cop program, Jacobs’ Ladder Therapeutic Riding Center and Variety, the Children’s Charity. Money raised by the company’s Valdosta Stadium Cinemas, 1680 Baytree Road, will go toward the three organizations. On Sunday, Oct. 16, 100 percent of ticket and concession sales go to the organizations. Tickets may be purchased through Sunday. The concept started with the nationwide Victims Benefit Day at the Movies following the events of 9/11. On Sept. 25, 2001, movie theatres across the U.S., including Georgia Theatre Company theatres, raised more than $5 million for 9/11 victims and their families, according to the theatre company. “William Jenkins Stembler, the grandson of the predecessor company’s founder, William K. Jenkins, wanted to continue the practice of giving back to the community,” according to Georgia Theatre Company, “and on a Tuesday in September 2004, the first Film & Food for a Cause event was held at Glynn Place Cinemas in Brunswick, Ga., and at Island Cinemas on St. Simons Island, Ga.” The first event’s success led to the company including more of its theatres in subsequent years. The event is now called “Cinema for a Cause.”