Valdosta Symphony kicks off ABAC Performing Arts Series

TIFTON, Ga. — The first of eight dynamic performing arts series events from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College will take place on Sept. 24 when the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra (VSO) presents “Symphonic Fire” featuring acclaimed violin soloist and chamber musician Corinne Stillwell. This ABAC Presents! Performing Arts Series’ performance will be held at the Tift County High School Performing Arts Center at 3 p.m. Tickets for the entire series are $80 for adults and $25 for students under 18 years of age. Individual ticket costs vary based on the performance. Tickets can be purchased online at www.purplepass.com/abac or by phone at (229) 391-4895.

 

Blue Tassel II Florists celebrates ribbon cutting

TIFTON, Ga. — Blue Tassel II Florists celebrated its ribbon cutting Tuesday, Sept. 19. Owners Jeff and Anne Jones and Josh and Amanda Moore of Blue Tassel II Florists celebrated with family and friends as well as ambassadors and staff from the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce. Blue Tassel II, located at 1401 N. Tift Ave., Suite D, has wide selection of flowers and arrangements for all types of occasions. For more information call: (229) 387-7673.

 

North Florida businesses, residents eligible for SBA disaster assistance

ATLANTA — Suwannee County residents and business owners affected by Hurricane Irma could be eligible for Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.  Suwannee and Lafayette counties are two of the 48 Florida counties eligible for bothPhysical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA.  Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in Hamilton County are eligible to apply only for the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Businesses and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase up to 20 percent of the physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from footed damages cause by a similar disaster. Disaster loans up to $20,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster damages or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible up to $40,000 to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed personal property. Interest rates are as low as 3.305 percent for businesses, 2.5 percent for nonprofit organizations and 1,75 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.  Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan application via the SBA’s secure website http://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. The filing deadline to return applicants for physical property damage is Nov. 9. The deadline to return economic injury applications in June 11, 2018. 

 

Metro Dalton’s jobless rate drops to 5.2 percent

DALTON, Ga. — Metro Dalton’s August unemployment rate was 5.2 percent, down from 5.4 percent in July, according to the state Department of Labor. Metro Dalton is Murray and Whitfield counties. A decline of 322 in the labor force contributed to the drop in the monthly rate which can be attributed to school-age workers returning to their educational institutions. The August 2016 jobless rate was 6.2 percent. From July to August, jobs in metro Dalton were up by 200 to 70,700. Most of the job growth came in the goods-producing sector, which includes manufacturing and construction. Since August 2016, metro Dalton has gained 500 jobs, a 0.7 percent growth rate. Most of the growth has come in manufacturing. There were 1,098 more metro Dalton residents employed than in August 2016. “The August numbers show Dalton’s economy and outlook for employment remains healthy,” state Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said.

 

Violinist ready for orchestra romance, challenges

VALDOSTA, Ga. – A guest violinist is ready for the challenges of her performance with the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra and believes the audience should be ready for a powerful encounter. Renowned violinist Corinne Stillwell is the guest artist scheduled to perform Glazunov’s Violin Concerto in A Minor this weekend with the orchestra “The Glazunov Concerto is a very romantic piece,” she said, “with soaring melodies and rich dark harmonies. It has the depths of intimacy and an exciting fanfare for a finale. All the hallmarks of a glorious Russian masterpiece.” The piece has its challenges especially in certain runs. “Although this is a relatively short concerto, it is very challenging for the violin soloist because of all the two-, three-, and four-note chords in rapid succession,” Stillwell said. “Some pieces are idiomatic for the instrument; this one has large passages that are not.” It is not one of the better known violin concertos, she said. “This work is among the standard violin concertos, although it is not one of the most popular – like Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, or Bruch,” Stillwell said. “I have been enjoying my time revisiting it.” Stillwell entered the Juilliard School at the age of 10 then spent 15 years working with Dorothy DeLay, Joel Smirnoff, Earl Carlyss, and Samuel Sanders, according to her biography.  “As a recitalist, she has performed at Carnegie’s Weill Hall, Chicago’s Dame Myra Hess series, and in Germany, Canada, and across the United States,” according to her biography. “With a repertoire of nearly 30 concerti, she has appeared frequently as soloist with numerous orchestras, including the New Jersey Symphony, the Nanjing Philharmonic in China, the Amarillo Symphony, the Greater Rochester Women’s Philharmonic, and on tour to Romania, Hungary, and Poland.” She never had any doubts of a career in music. “Having grown up in a family of musicians, I started playing the violin at the age of 4,” she said, “and knew soon after that this was what I wanted as a career.” Stillwell joins the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra for its “Symphonic Fire” concert, featuring Beethoven’s “Leonore Overture No. 3,” Op. 72; Glazunov’s Violin Concerto in A Minor, Op. 82; Dvorak’s Symphony No. 7 in D Minor, Op. 70, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, Whitehead Auditorium, Valdosta State University Fine Arts Building, corner of Oak and Brookwood. More information: Call VSU College of the Arts Outreach, (229) 333-2150; or visitwww.valdostasymphony.org.

 

Rhino art honors Rhino Day 

VALDOSTA, Ga. – One of Wild Adventures Theme Park’s beloved animals showed off a unique talent Wednesday in honor of World Rhino Day. Graham, the 18-year-old Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros, is quite an artist, painting a set of canvases that will be raffled off Saturday. “World Rhino Day is important because it gives a chance to spread awareness about why rhinos are endangered and what people can do to get involved in helping with conservation,” said Lisa Henderson, Graham’s primary caretaker. “Graham is an educational ambassador and he gets their hearts involved.” Graham has lived at Wild Adventures since 2011 and enjoys treats of bananas and apples. He paints by dipping his upper lip in non-toxic paint and making strokes on a canvas held by Henderson. His talents are rewarded with his favorite foods. Along with the raffle, the park will accept donations for the International Rhino Foundation, which works to end poaching and to improve the long-term survival of all rhino species. The popular Halloween-themed “Terror in the Wild” and “Kid-O-Ween” return this weekend along with a car show Sept. 23. For more information, visit wildadventures.com.