Dalton Marine Corps League to host Community Appreciation Day

DALTON, Ga. —  The Dalton Marine Corps League/Cpl. Glenn Pair Detachment 1309 will host a Community Appreciation Day on Saturday, June 16, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Dalton Green on Selvidge Street behind the courthouse. The event is free to the public and everyone is invited. Those attending the celebration of the detachment’s 10th anniversary will be treated to lunch and music from The Casey Adams Band. Children will be able to play in the bouncy inflatables and playgrounds provided. There will also be fire engines and firemen with equipment on display. An antique/specialty car Cruise-In will be featured at the BB&T parking lot’s lower section. Dalton’s own Tom Phillips, The Duke of Dalton Mornings on Hope 93.3 FM, will be the master of ceremonies for the event. Attendees can enter to win a gift from Maryville Jewelers and other local merchants, and no purchase is necessary. However, you must be present to win.  The Dalton Marine Corps League is proud to celebrate its 10th anniversary and would like to increase its community involvement by encouraging local citizens to join the league. Membership is open to all active, reserve or honorably-discharged Marines, or to anyone who believes in the traditions and values of the United States Marine Corps.

Park specialist to speak at Native Plant Society meeting

BRANFORD, Fla. — The June meeting of the Sparkleberry Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society will feature a spotlight on a few of the area’s state parks.

Teri Graves-McInstry, a Park Services Specialist, will be in attendance Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Hatch Park Community Center, to discuss what it takes to make the area’s natural areas accessible for hiking, fishing, camping and the other various ways the outdoors are enjoyed.

Graves-McInstry’s duties include resource management for three Florida State Parks: Big Shoals, Stephen Foster and Olustee Battlefield. She is involved with prescribed fires, exotic plant and animal removal and hydrological reports among other duties.

Graves-McInstry has worked in 12 different state parks since 2012 from Escambia County in the panhandle to the Suwannee River Valley area.

From that experience she will discuss some of the methods the parks use to manage and control invasive plant and animal species, techniques that can help those in attendance care for their own properties.

The Sparkleberry Chapter meets the second Tuesday of every month, except July and August, at the Hatch Park Community Center, 403 SE Craven St., in Branford.

The meetings are free and open to the public.

Arts Center honors Moultrie couple for longtime support

MOULTRIE, Ga. — Every year, the Evelyn King Vereen Service Award is granted to an individual who is an active volunteer and has a history of service to the Colquitt County Arts Center. This award was created to honor Mrs. Vereen and her longtime service. This year, the award went to a couple, Billy and Barbara Fallin of Moultrie. “The Arts Center cannot thank them enough for over 30 years of volunteer work and support from the letter that built the Arts Center to the now upgraded auditorium lights,” the Arts Center said in a press release.

The Plaza, SoHo honored in ‘100 Plates Locals Love’

THOMASVILLE, Ga. — The Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Tourism Division (GDEcD) has released the 2018 state culinary guide, Georgia Eats. The fourth annual digest-sized guide features the wildly popular “100 Plates Locals Love” list, as well as 10 flavor tours that showcase inspiring dining options, a gallery of the state’s most Instagrammable foods, unique festivals, delectable recipes from a few of Georgia’s celebrated chefs and more. Among the “100 Plates Locals Love” were the Greek salad at The Plaza Restaurant and Oyster Bar in Thomasville and the pimento dumplings at SoHo in Thomasville. Georgia Eats was initially published in conjunction with the “Year of Culinary” campaign in 2015. The enthusiastic response from visitors led tourism officials to continue publishing it annually. Georgia Eats has become one of the state’s most popular marketing pieces with a print circulation of 187,000 and 62,000 unique page views via ExploreGeorgia.org. “There is no better way to immerse yourself in Georgia’s history and culture than through our unique food and dining offerings,” said Kevin Langston, deputy commissioner for tourism at the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “Whether you’re looking for local favorites or finding the best food festival for a weekend away, Georgia Eats is the perfect guide to delicious experiences you can’t find anywhere else.” The cover of Georgia Eats features Chef-farmer Matthew Raiford, owner of The Famer and the Larder in downtown Brunswick. A 2018 James Beard nominee, Chef Raiford’s restaurant gives a whole new meaning to farm-to-table as many of the ingredients come from Raiford’s nearby family farm, Gilliard Farms, which has been in his family since 1874. Since the inaugural issue of Georgia Eats, Georgia Tourism has designated the “100 Plates Locals Love” as a way to provide visitors with locally-sourced suggestions. Nominations from around the state are gathered via ExploreGeorgia.org and evaluated by a panel of judges who curate the list down to the final designees. The list has been likened to recommendations that Georgians would share with family and friends, and it has received rave reviews from visitors as well as restaurant owners. View the full “100 Plates Locals Love” list online at ExploreGeoriga.org. The Georgia Eats culinary guide is available at the state’s 12 Visitor Information Centers across the state and on the state’s consumer tourism website ExploreGeorgia.org. To learn more about Georgia’s culinary experiences through videos, tours and more, visit ExploreGeorgia.org/dining. Share your favorite food finds using #GeorgiaEats.

Little Miss Ivy pageant scheduled

VALDOSTA, Ga. — The Kappa Eta Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. presents the Little Miss Ivy pageant. Little Miss Ivy is an annual pageant held by the chapter which includes participation from young girls sponsored by local schools, according to organizers. Little Miss Ivy helps the young girls focus on team building and character enhancement. There are six Little Miss Ivy contestants ranging from 5 to 9 years old. They are Jaeden Allen, Jordan Hargett, Jakeyah Patrick, Ria Grace Rapier, Moriah Smith and Ahriss Meriweather. There are three Miss Ivy contestants who are between 10 and 13 years old and they are Denver Arnold, Taylor Howard and Jazmin Rountree, according to organizers. The pageant will be held 4 p.m. Sunday, June 24, at Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks & Recreation Authority, 1901 N. Forrest St. Tickets will only be sold in advance in the amount of $10 and each ticket purchased will include dinner. Funds generated by the event will support scholarships given to recent senior graduates at Lowndes High School, Valdosta High School, Brooks County High School, Cook County High School and Hamilton County (Fla.) High School. Tickets can be purchased by contacting Felicia Williams, 229-560-2798, Carolyn Haigler, 229-630-3508, or any member of Kappa Eta Omega chapter.

Literacy Volunteers of Tifton-Tift County holding Boston butt fundraiser

TIFTON, GA. — Literacy Volunteers of Tifton-Tift County is pre-selling smoked Boston Butts this month for the 4th of July holiday for a donation of $25. Those wanting a 6-8 lb. portion of smoked pork should request a ticket by calling 229-391-2527, emailing tiftlv@gmail.com or talking to a board member. The pre-cooked, frozen butts may be picked up in the parking lot of First Presbyterian Church, 217 Park Ave. N., from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, June 30, to be thawed for the 4th of July. The fundraiser benefits adults in the community who are learning to read and preparing to take their GEDs, as well as those who are learning to speak, read and write English as a second language.