Decatur to read and celebrate TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

The Princess Theatre Center for the Performing Arts hosts a Big Read project in Decatur that will focus on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Alabamian Harper Lee. The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. Decatur is among 268 cities participating this year in the largest literature project in the United States. The Princess Theatre will partner with the Decatur Public Library and other organizations and volunteers to bring the entire community together to read and discuss Alabama’s most famous novel “To Kill a Mockingbird.” The Big Read highlights not only literature, but also what can be accomplished in partnership.
More than 40 activities will take place in Big Read Decatur from October 1-31, 2009. Mayor Don Stanford and Senator Arthur Orr will declare October Mockingbird Month at the free Kick Off event on Thursday, October 1 at noon at the Princess Theatre for a Celebration and 50th birthday party for Harper Lee's classic novel. The public is invited to bring a brown bag lunch, with the Theatre providing drinks and the Friends of the Decatur Public Library serving desserts featured in the book, including pound cakes, a Lane cake, ambrosia, cookies, biscuits-syrup-butter, lemon drops, tootsie rolls, and brownies.
A free Keynote Lecture: "How a Lady from Monroeville, Alabama Taught the World About Tolerance" is scheduled on October 1 at 7 p.m. with Alabama's premier historian Dr. Wayne Flynt. The themes of tolerance, justice and humanity raised in the novel remain relevant.
Other community-based reading programs feature activities such as book discussions at a variety of venues, an exhibit and discussion at the Morgan County Archives about Decatur’s most famous civil rights case, the Scottsboro Boys Trial, a historic walk through 1930s Decatur during the Trial, movie screenings, music at the Old State Bank, crafts and discussions at the Carnegie Visual Arts Center and a National Touring dramatic performance of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” The Decatur City Schools have scheduled arts education activities that include a teacher workshop with Dr. Flynt, a student workshop with actors, an Essay Contest for high school students, and a multi-disciplined arts event by Austin High School entitled “A Night in Maycomb.”
A full calendar of events for BIG READ DECATUR is available at www.princesstheatre.org and http://neabigread.com/communities/?community_id=2082. For information, call the Princess Theatre Box Office at 340.1778.

Eighty-one Semi-Finalists Selected for Model Search!

At 12:01 a.m. September 1st, Julianne Lowman, Marketing Director for Decatur Parks & Recreation stared in disbelief at her computer screen. By the time the Point Mallard Model Search contest entry deadline arrived, the computer displayed nearly 1500 potential models. The contest, which began June 1st, allowed anyone to enter their child between the ages of 6 months and 13 years old to vie for a chance to be used in Point Mallard’s 2010 advertising campaign. Lowman knew she now needed to select 75 semi-finalists from this massive collection for an interview and photo session, then eventually narrow the field to twelve which include one grand prize winner. But for the time being, she simply clicked on page after page of adorable faces wondering how she would make such a decision.
“Selecting 75 kids from a field of nearly 1,500 was just so difficult. So, I added a few more. I felt I needed to see a few more of the children in person to make a better judgment as to their commercial abilities or potential, which is the reason the top seventy-five is now eighty-one.” Lowman says she will base her final decision on several factors; the child’s commercial appearance, personality, independence and ability to follow instructions. “It’s not about being cute, because they all are. It’s about being marketable based on the photos submitted. I wish I could have picked another one hundred!”
“Of course that is based on age, but there are just some kids and babies that are very good at posing regardless of age. I also try to keep kids in an environment they can relate to, then talk with them or photograph them while they play.”
The 1,469 contestants was narrowed to the following semi-finalists;
1. Alivia Thompson age 6 Months of Moulton
2. Natalee Jordan age 10 months of Decatur
3. Dalton Turley age 10 1/2 months of Toney
4. Rylan Chandler age 11 months of Pulaski, TN
5. Brenton Hines age 12 months of Lexington
6. Adley Willis age 13 months of Harvest
7. Jackson Crowder age 14 months of Huntsville
8. Cole Mullin age 16 months of Decatur
9. Campbell Click age 18 Months of Owens Cross Roads
10. Kyleigh Blackney age 20 months of Decatur
11. Amari Strawder age 21 months of Hartselle
12. Savannah Littrel age 2 of Athens
13. Alice Jinks age 2 of Athens
14. Halee Maddox age 2 of Albertville
15. Chaseton Jackson age 2 of Moulton
16. Trey Greenwell age 2 of Decatur
17. Kohl Oyervidez age 2 of Decatur
18. Aliyah Pacheco age 3 of Albertville
19. Kelly McGregor age 3 of Decatur
20. Allyson Barribeau age 3 of Madison
21. Xavier Carter age 3 of Huntsville
22. Tristan Day age 3 of Decatur
23. Carmen Williams age 3 of Muscle Shoals
24. Illora Goodwin age 3 of Hartselle
25. Kailyn Boman age 3 of Albertville
26. Jada Appleton age 3 of Trinity
27. Gavin Chambers age 3 of Pisgah
28. Nathan Necaise age 4 of Somerville
29. Josee B. Steelman age 4 of Huntsville
30. Kennedy Hawthorne age 4 of Huntsville
31. Sariah Maloney age 4 of Decatur
32. Tyus Smith age 4 of Hillsboro
33. Abigail Grimes age 4 of Trinity
34. Caitlin Kelly age 4 of Madison
35. Kyle Dodd age 4 ½ of Madison
36. Seth Coggins age 5 of Decatur
37. Skyler Cato age 5 of Decatur
38. Daniel Galyean age 5 of Huntsville
39. Tyler Palmer age 5 of Trinity
40. Cameron Filyaw age 5 of Madison
41. Samuel Wilson age 5 of Madison
42. Tyden Kortman age 5 of Elkmont
43. Brookelyn Soohoo age 5 of Huntsville
44. Sebastian Pendegraph age 5 of Trinity
45. Charlie Owens age 6 of Trinity
46. Lulu Boyle age 6 of Decatur
47. Halle Hilton age 6 of Trussville
48. TeAja Thompson age 6 of Madison
49. Libby Williams age 6 of Owens Cross Roads
50. Tatum Lee age 6 of Madison
51. Chandler Click age 7 of Owens Cross Roads
52. Logan Maloney age 7 of Decatur
53. Kayla Rodriguez age 8 of Harvest
54. Isabella Stephenson age 8 of Decatur
55. Dylan Brotherton age 8 of Madison
56. Jordan Hale age 8 of Hartselle
57. Dalton Gibson age 9 of Madison
58. Mally Green age 9 of Hartselle
59. Tori Argenti age 9 of Hartselle
60. Laken Hilton age 9 of Trussville
61. Ashley Lindley age 9 of Danville
62. Lakota Lopez age 10 of Athens
63. Ashlyn Wheat age 10 of Decatur
64. Cassandra Hargrove age 10 of Huntsville
65. Rachel Hardaker age 10 of Harvest
66. Morgan LeeAnn Sturgeon age 10 of Toney
67. McKenna Maloney age 10 of Decatur
68. Autumn Edmondson age 10 of Falkville
69. Brooklyn Sawyer age 11 of Decatur
70. John David Whitten age 11of Decatur
71. Sarah DeFalco age 11 of Madison
72. Jordan Nicole Sturgeon age 11 of Toney
73. Tatyana Jones age 12 of Decatur
74. Brylie Mason age 12 of Decatur
75. Jessi Schoel age 12 of Decatur
76. Selena Henderson age 12 of Madison
77. Chance Letson age 12 of Hazel green
78. Braxton Higdon age 12 of Decatur
79. Nathan Maloney age 12 of Decatur
80. Brittany Bell age 13 of Decatur
81. Kristina Chambers age 13 of Woodville
After an interview and photo session the field will be narrowed to twelve with one child being selected as the grand prize winner. The grand prize winner will be featured on an interstate billboard and in a television commercial for the park’s 40th Anniversary in 2010. All finalists will have the opportunity to be featured in fashion shows, brochures, flyers, internet ads and much more. The top twelve finalists including the Grand Prize winner will be announced with the unveiling of the 2010 Anniversary Calendar for Point Mallard in November.

Fall Pottery Classes

Create, explore, express, and discover your own inner artist during Fall Pottery Classes. Register now for classes beginning after Labor Day. Space is limited so reserve your spot today. For more information, please call Linda Sanders Lee at The Artist Within- 409 Bank Street- 256-309-8068.

Southland Flywheelers 1st Annual Fall Show and History Expo at the Morgan County Fair

A New show for 09 will be the Southland Flywheeler Fall show, swap meet, and History Expo!Sat. Oct. 3rd Featuring steel wheels!
1st Annual Fall Show and History ExpoFeaturing the 1st Steel Wheel and Crawler Rally
History Expo to include but not limited to:
Blacksmithing, Wood Working, Spinning and Weaving,Corn Shelling, Corn Grinding, Dutch oven cooking,Sugar cane cutting, Sugar cane pressing, Cane syrup makingCotton harvesting, and peanut harvesting
Other activities:
Tractor parade, Tractor Games, Tractor Teeter TotterPlowing Demos, Prony brake, and Hay Bailing Demos
SWAP MEET
Live steam shed with a display table for participants to use for displaying various size steam engines. We are also going to have plowing and harvesting demos, along with corn grinding and cotton picking. There will be something for everyone. All ages will have a blast! Make plans now to be there. Check back for the complete schedule!Matt Calahan 256-527-0988 or Larry Lemmond 256-773-2692
www.southlandflywheelers.org

2009 Morgan County Fair Schedule

Sept. 24 - Thursday
5:30pm- Gates Open
(Carload Night!)
7:00pm - 10:00pm Natchez Trace
($25 for everyone inside the car.)

Sept. 25 - Friday
5:30pm- Gates Open
7:00pm - Wrestling
$ Ride Armbands

Sept. 26 - Saturday
12:00pm- Gates Open
8:00am-10:00am- Lamb Registration
10:30 am- Lamb Show
11:00 am Goat Registration
Goat Show will start 30 minutes after Goat Show
2:00-4:00pm - Studio A dancers
6:30pm - Demolition Derby
7:00pm - 5 O'Clock Charlie
$ Ride Armbands

Sept. 27 - Sunday
2:00pm- Gates Open
Contemporary Christian Band Day
$ Ride Armbands

Sept. 28 - Monday
5:30pm-Gates Open
8:30-10:00pm - Roosevelt Franklin Band$ Ride Armbands

Sept. 29 - Tuesday
5:30pm-Gates Open
Sound of Silence
$ Ride Armbands

Sept. 30 - Wednesday
5:30pm- Gates Open
7:00pm - Wrestling$ Ride Armbands

Oct. 1 - Thursday
Gates open at 5:30pm
$ Ride Armbands

Oct. 2 - Friday
Gates open at 5:30pm
6:30pm - Youth Horse Show
$ Ride Armbands

Oct. 3 - Saturday
8:00 am-12:00pm- Heifer Registration
12:30pm- Heifer Show
1:00 pm- Steer Registration
30 minutes following the finish of the heifer show the Steer show will start.
8:00am - Southland Flywheelers - A New show for 09 will be the Southland Flywheeler Fall show, swap meet, and History Expo! The expo will include crafts such as blacksmithing, spinning, weaving, wood working and much more. We are also going to have plowing and harvesting demos, along with corn grinding and cotton picking. there will be something for everyone. All ages will have a blast!
1:00pm - Miss & Master Morgan County Fair Pageant
7:00pm - Rollin' in the Hay
$ Ride Armbands

Princess Theatre Announces new 2009-2010 Season

The Princess Theatre Center for the Performing Arts announces the 2009-2010 Season, presenting six major touring arts events in the Professional Series, Special Events, a Lecture & Film Series and Decatur’s first NEA BIG READ project. Season tickets are now on sale at the Theatre’s Box Office, providing first choice of tickets and discounts. Single ticket sales begin September 21. The Princess Theatre invites the public to a free Performing Arts Festival and Open House on September 10 from noon until 8:30 p.m. to learn about upcoming events.

The Season begins on October 26 with Montana Repertory’s National Touring production of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alabamian Harper Lee. The play is made possible with The Big Read initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest, a grant from the Southern Arts Federation and sponsorship support from Eyster, Key Attorneys at Law and Morgan County Attorneys. On November 19, fourteen-time Grammy Award winner Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder perform a bluegrass concert. Direct from New York, 100 Years of Broadway is next on January 30. The All-Star Broadway concert features a live band and five dazzling Broadway stars from such hit musicals as Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Chicago and Jekyl and Hyde in a tribute to the Great White Way. The concert is sponsored by the Decatur-Morgan County Physicians and Lite 96.9.

Grammy winner and Grand Ole Opry regular Marty Stuart appears next on the Princess stage on February 19. In a career that has spanned from playing with Johnny Cash to serving as president of the Country Music Foundation, Marty and His Fabulous Superlatives will share their music that celebrates American roots music. One of jazz’s hottest young performers is Russian-born vocalist Sophie Milman. The winner of Canada’s Juno Award for Best Vocal Jazz Album in 2008, Ms. Milman performs on March 13, adding the Princess to her list of venues that include the Blue Note, Hollywood Bowl and the Kennedy Center. The concert is sponsored by the Decatur Women’s Chamber of Commerce. The season ends on a comedy note when the “funniest man in America,” James Gregory, is scheduled on March 26. This modern day Mark Twain brings his down home, southern comedy experience back to Decatur, made possible by The Decatur Daily and The Rocket.

Special events include area jazz bands in the Annual Big Band Bash XVII on April 1. The Lecture and Film Series includes a line up of cultural lectures/films begins on October 1 with a lecture on Harper Lee, followed by a film screening of the 1962 classic “To Kill a Mockingbird” on October 8and the featured author of the Calhoun College Writers’ Conference. Special programming during the 2009-2010 Season features October 2009 as “Mockingbird Month.” More than 40 programs are scheduled that feature films, lectures, book discussions and workshops about the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” during BIG READ DECATUR and it kicks off with a brown bag lunch event on October 1 followed by a free evening lecture “How a Lady from Monroeville Taught the World About Tolerance” by distinguished historian Wayne Flynt.

The Princess Theatre Season is made possible by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, Southern Arts Federation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Reserved season tickets are now available at the Princess Theatre box office. For more information, call 256-340-1778 or visit the Princess Web site at:
www.princesstheatre.org

Labor Day Concert starring Dorothy Cole in tribute to Tina Turner

The Decatur Parks and Recreation Department is giving you one last time to be “rollin’ on the river!” in a special Labor Day concert beginning at 6:00 PM that will star Dorothy Cole in tribute to Tina Turner. Dorothy’s appearance at an earlier concert was cancelled due to rain, so the weather “Better be good to me” in the September 7 concert that will begin at 6:00 PM at Rhodes Ferry Park. For updated schedule information, please call 341-4818 or visit http://www.decaturparks.com/. In case of inclement weather, cancellation decisions will be made after 4:00 PM.

Vocalist Dorothy Cole will pay tribute to the legendary TINA TURNER in a high octane performance that will get the audience moving! Ms. Cole’s tribute to Turner is so realistic that she has actually stood in for her three times, twice in her hometown of Nutbush, Tennessee and once in DoverKent, England, appearing on the same program as Rod Stewart. Her vocal skills have earned Ms. Cole studio experience in her own right, and she has opened for artists such as the Platters and the Coasters. She has recently performed at Key West, Florida. A popular performer at conventions, festivals, reunions, receptions and private parties, Ms. Cole, like the legendary Turner, is “Simply the Best!”
For more information on Dorothy Cole, please visit http://www.dorothycole.net/. This concert will be the final concert in the 2009 season, with the 2010 Paul Stroud Concerts by the River series scheduled to resume on May 3, 2010.

Concert-goers are invited to bring their picnic baskets, lawn chairs or a blanket and enjoy an evening of free entertainment on the banks of the beautiful Tennessee River. For more information, please call 341-4818.