Features

BY ANGELA GARY
A small green dress with white polka-dots on it and a row of small flowers around each sleeve and the waist. A black windbreaker with a couple dancing in white on the back. A white lacey top with black gaucho-style pants with a two red lines across the bottom of each leg. A black and white dress with a flower design. The tiny black dress with a red “B” on it.
These are just a few of the pieces of clothing I uncovered when I recently cleaned out a closet in the extra bedroom in our home. As I pulled each piece of clothing from the closet, I was immediately overcome with memories of the time I wore the clothing, even though it had been more than 40 years since for some of the clothes. For some reason, I have held on to them over the years as I’ve cleaned out the closet. They always make the “keep” pile as I try to get rid of stuff. I guess it’s because of the memories they bring back.
The small green dress with white polka-dots on it and the row of flowers on the sleeves and waist was the dress I wore when I was a flower girl in a family friend’s wedding. I was 5 or 6 years old and didn’t like being all dressed up and having to walk down the aisle holding the ring bearer’s hand. In all of the photos, I have an angry look on my face.
The black windbreaker with the couple dancing on the back of it also has “Nicholson Cloggers” on it. A few other items I found in the closet were dresses I wore as a clogger. A green dress with a blue vest, a coral colored dress with small flowers on it and a red and white striped dress are just a few I still have. I have so many memories of clogging with my friends. We were regulars at the Daisy Festival and traveled to Helen, Stone Mountain and other places throughout North Georgia to perform. We marched and clogged through Commerce and Jefferson in the annual Christmas parades. And, of course, I still remember how to clog today. It’s not something you forget.
The white lacey top with black gaucho-style plants is my first color guard outfit. I was in the first marching band that Jackson County Comprehensive High School ever had, which was in the early 1980s. I also have my color guard jacket with the JC letter on it.
The black and white dress with a flower design on it was the dress I wore when I graduated from the University of Georgia. I also have a pale pink dress with flowers on it that I wore from the Journalism School graduation at UGA. Both special days and I’m glad I have the dresses to remind me of those times.
The tiny black dress with a “B” on it is from my days cheering for the Benton Bulldogs when I was in elementary school.
In these days when we get rid of so much stuff, I’m glad that I held on to these pieces of my past. The clothes don’t fit any more. And they wouldn’t mean anything to anyone but me. But they don’t take up too much room in the closet and it’s nice to occasionally pull them out and remember some of the best days of my childhood and early adulthood.
Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers Inc. She can be reached at AngieEditor@aol.com.

BY ANGELA GARY
She had just undergone surgery. She was still on oxygen and looked tiny in that hospital bed. At first, I didn’t even see her in the bed.
She’s in a lot of pain and it’s hard to understand what she is staying. She is mumbling and looking at me.
I think she is saying, “head, head, head.” I ask if her head is hurting.
“No,” she quickly replies, asking me, “How is your head.”
That’s my Mama.
As she is rolled out of surgery, the first thing on her mind is whether the headache I’ve had for the past few weeks is better.
A little later in the afternoon, when my sister and brother-in-law get ready to leave, she starts reminding them to stop and get Daddy something to eat. She’s not worried about her own meal for the night. Instead, she wants to make sure Daddy is taken care of.
That’s my Mama.
The night of the surgery, Mama and I were about to try to get some sleep in her hospital room, when a tornado warning was issued.
A nurse and several assistants suddenly ran in the room, started unhooking all of the equipment and told us we had to move to a hallway with no windows. We were in that hallway, along with other patients, family members and hospital staff or over an hour. Was Mama worried about our safety. Probaby a little but she was also telling me to keep texting the family at home and make sure they were all OK.
That’s my Mama.
Mama is slowly recovering from her surgery, and I’m still trying to get rid of the headaches. Through all of this, it’s been a blessing to have somoene who always puts you first. I know Mama will always put us first. That’s just the way she is.
Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers Inc. She can be reached at Angie@mainstreetnews.com.

BY ANGELA GARY
Nestled off the road in the mountain countryside of Young Harris in the heart of North Georgia is the amazing Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa. Just a few minutes from Hiawassee, visitors will find this delightful place to escape for some rest and relaxation in a scenic location.
A spa that will leave you refreshed and rejuvenated, restaurants offering delicious food in a charming location with a great view of the mountainside and outdoor activities including horseback riding are just a few of the wonderful things awaiting guests to Brasstown Valley Resort.
While there is plenty to do, you will likely spend some time sitting on your balcony enjoying the view.
The resort is located on 503 acres in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. As soon as you leave the main road and start down the winding path to the inn, you will begin to leave your worries behind. It’s such a pretty drive and it gets you ready for the beautiful scenery ahead. Wherever you look, you will see the rolling mountain tops along the skyline. It’s peaceful, relaxing and tranquil.
The lobby is charmingly decorated with a rustic elegant motif and it will also get in you the relaxation mode. The staff is very friendly and helpful and will soon get you settled in your room and make any reservations or arrangements you need during your stay.
We started off our weekend get-away to Brasstown Resort in the restaurant located on the main level, just past the lobby. It was seafood buffet night and we had quite a treat awaiting us. Boiled shrimp, oyster shooters, seafood salad, steamed mussels and clams and house smoked salmon were just a few of the choices. The dessert table was filled with bread pudding, cakes, cobblers and other sweet treats.
After dinner, we enjoyed walking around the property. In addition to the amazing mountain views, we also enjoyed the lovely landscaping on the property.
There are both indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center and tennis courts, as well as rocking chairs on the back deck just off the inn’s lobby area. The lobby itself is very large and has plenty of comfy sofas for those who want to spend some time visiting with friends and family or even taking a book and reading.
The downstairs level of the inn has a great art gallery area with history and photos of the area. There is also a more casual restaurant, a game room and two gift shops. One of the gift shops is large and has all kinds of gift items, clothing and fun and unique items. The other gift shop offers local items and books written by local authors.
The rooms are spacious with a balcony overlooking the property.
Guests have lots of options, including golf, horseback riding, tennis, hiking trails, fishing and a spa.
We opted for the spa and headed over to the Equani Spa, located across the road from the inn. Just ask at the desk and a driver will take you over to the spa and will pick you up after your service.
The Equani Spa offers body treatments, facials, massages and unique rituals indigenous to the Cherokee people. All are designed to “stimulate and refresh the mind, body and soul.”
The spa experience was a delight from checking in with the friendly staff to the time in the relaxation room to the massage treatment.
The spa is open to guests of the resort, as well as day guests. Lunch items and drinks are offered and there is a deck area where you can spend some time relaxing before or after your treatment.
We both had a 50-minute massage and our therapists, Michael and Angela, were great. We left refreshed and relaxed.
While you may opt to not leave the property during your get-away, there are many nearby activities that you might enjoy. Trips to Brasstown Bald, which is Georgia’s highest mountain; antique shopping; visiting orchards; and checking out the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds are all possibilities that are just a short drive away.
Make plans for your own mountain get-away by checking out the Brasstown Valley Resort website at www.brasstownvalley.com. The resort staff prides itself on “magic moments” for its guests and “fond farewells.” You will be sure to experience both and will want to plan a return visit.

Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers Inc. She can be reached at AngieEditor@aol.com.

BY ANGELA GARY
It’s known as the Lakeway to the Smokies and it’s easy to see why with the “million dollar view” of the Smokies found in Loudon County, Tenn., where the Little Tennessee River meets the Tennessee River.
The beautiful water scenes with the mountain backdrop can be found at Fort Loudoun, Tellico and other rivers and lakes in the county. This makes for great boating, fishing and other outdoor adventures.
Options to getting out on the water and enjoying the views include taking a pontoon boat ride at Fort Loudon Marina, where rentals are offered, or heading out on the Tennessee River on your own boat, with docks with parking areas make it convenient and easy to get in the water.
Paddle boat and kayak rentals are also offered, by River Sports Outfitters at the Lenoir City Park.
For some more outdoor adventure with great views of the mountains, take a hike on the East Lakeshore Trail, where you get 180-degree views of Tellico Lake from Mizell Bluff. We went on a one-mile hike through the woods one morning with the winding trail leading to a great view.
If you enjoy history, you will find plenty on your trip to this area of East Tennessee. Native American and Colonial history, as well as a few Civil War stops are among the sites you will want to include.
Our trip included a visit to the recently-renovated Sequoyah Museum, the colonial settlement of Fort Loudoun and the National Campground site in Greenback (where an outdoor church service is held annually).
While in Lenoir City, we also stopped in The Lenioir City Museum, which is housed in a Victorian cottage built in 1890. The museum includes information and memorabilia on the city from its beginnings as a settlement in the 1800s.
The Historic Loudon Theatre Courtyard offers live music and food trucks on Saturday nights at 7 p.m. at its “Groovin’ on Grove Street.” It’s a fun spot where you can hear some live music and get something to eat from a food truck. I’m so thankful this historic theater is being restored and offered for community events.
Our trip included a visit to Sweetwater Valley Farm in Philadelphia, Tenn., a working dairy farm and cheese plant where you will find a unique blend of cheddar cheeses to sample and purchase.
Seasonal tours of the farm’s dairy operation are also offered. We tried a few of their many cheese selections. It’s hard to pick a favorite at Sweetwater Valley Farm but we finally decided on the buttermilk. All of the cheeses we tried were great.
Mary Lyndal Harrison gave us great suggestions and made some great fried cheese for us to sample.
Shopping and dining out are highlights of any trip and you will find plenty of charming restaurants and shopping, from boutiques to antiques, in Loudon County.
Our shopping stops in Loudon included: Miss Marie’s, Simply Distressed, The Pink Tulip and Past Tymes Antiques.
Shopping in Lenoir City included: Cider & Bliss, Southern Bliss Boutique, Sparkly Pig, The Backdoor Gallery, Sadie’s Boutique and the Lacy.
WHERE TO EAT
A few stops as we ate our way through Loudon County included:
•The Blue Heron Restaurant in the Tellico Village Yacht Club is located in a private lakefront community. You will find a beautiful backdrop to an amazing meal. Fried cheese and shrimp for appetizers, tuna with coconut rice and soy-infused vegetables for an entrée and chocolate cake for dessert making for a great meal. Located at 100 Sequoyah Road, Loudon.
•Annabells Emporium and Café, where I am still thinking about the Panini with sweet ham, roasted turkey, provolone, thin sliced apple and cranberry sauce. It was SO good! You get a sweet surprise treat to end your meal when cookies are brought by the table. I chose a chocolate cherry cookie and it was great. We also did some shopping, purchasing a cute purple ring and a red scarf. Located at 304 Wharf Street, Loudon.
•For a sweet treat while shopping in Loudon, stop in at the Tic-Toc Ice Cream Parlor. Many flavors of ice cream and sorbet are offered, so you are sure to find something you will like. Shakes, floats, sundaes, banana splits and ice cream sodas are also offered. Located at 504 Grove Street, Loudon.
•Tommy’s Shop ‘N Shop is a must on Thursday night when bluegrass and catfish are offered. The catfish filets were so good that I had to ask for the secret. Soak them in hot sauce a few days before cooking. It’s not too hot but the subtle flavor makes the fish even better. The bluegrass was also lots of fun with the crowd enjoying some old-time favorites from the band. If you’re not in town on a Thursday, still stop by as the food is great. We sampled the pinto beans and a few of the homemade salads and everything was great. Located at 16471 Highway 72 North, Loudon.
•Larry’s Mama’s Grits is located inside Classico Italian Pizza and Subs, offering breakfast. The grits really are amazing, creaming and filled with flavor. I also loved the breakfast skillet, with eggs, sauce, gravy and biscuits. It was a very filling breakfast!
•Country Kinfolk Marketplace & Café, a family-owned business where I had a great frito pie and lemon cookie. You will also find a large gift shop with clothing, home décor, a barn venue and a pavilion venue. Located at 270 Hickman Street, Lenoir City.
•Le Noir Bistro is where you will find Belgian food with a Southern twist. Entrée choices include mussels, pork chops with hunter sauce and chicken filet with tarragon. For dessert, try some of the chocolate truffles and turtles that are now offered. Located at 123 East Broadway Street, Lenoir City.
•The Calhoun’s in Lenoir City is the only restaurant in this chain that serves a buffet lunch. It was wonderful with the fried okra and creamed corn being our favorites (yes, we went back for seconds). You also get a great view on the water along Melton Lake. Located at 4550 City Park Drive, Lenoir City.
•The Greenback Drug Store Diner is the home of the grilled honeybun and we had one, even though we were there for breakfast. It’s an oversize honeybun, buttered and griddle-fried, then topped with chocolate sauce and a scoop of Blue Bunny vanilla ice cream. Located at 6729 Morganton Road, Greenback.
•Tennessee Valley Winery offers local cheese and other products and has music on the third Thursday night of each month. You can enjoy a snack or even a meal while surrounded by great views at the oldest winery in Tennessee, which has won over 900 awards. Located at 15606 Hotchkiss Valley Road, Loudon.
FALL FUN
If you are visiting in October, Dead Man Farms has offered a haunted house for 10 years. New this year will be “coffin ride” attraction. The 13,000 square foot haunted house is a “walk-thru horror movie.” It features 33 scenes during the 45-minute walk-thru. Last year, 14,000 went through the haunted house during October. In addition to the haunted house, outside visitors will find concessions, fire breathers, music and a bon fire.
WHERE TO STAY
We stayed at the La Quinta Inns & Suites, which offers spacious comfy rooms, free breakfast and great location. Located at 12400 Highway 72 North, Loudon (I-75 at Exit 72).
To start planning your trip, check out the website, www.visitloudoncounty.com.

Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers Inc. She can be reached at AngieEditor@aol.com.

Eating a lobster roll on a picnic table from a roadside stand in scenic Peggy’s Cove in Halifax. Strolling through a nearby cemetery checking out the gravesites from some of the victims of the Titanic. Sipping a blueberry soda in Bar Harbor, Maine, overlooking the waterway filled with sailboats.
These are just a few of the memories I treasure from a recent Norwegian cruise to New England and Canada.
Cruising on the Norwegian Gem, we saw some beautiful scenery, from Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor to Peggy’s Cove in Halifax. The stops included some of my favorite things, lighthouses and lobster. We saw some breathtaking lighthouses and had lobster at all four stops on the cruise.
Since returning home, we have tried to pick our favorite stop and our favorite lobster dish but it was impossible. Each stop and each lobster meal had things about them that could put them on the top of the list. As soon as we thought back to that sweeping oceanside landscape with the lighthouse in the background at Peggy’s Cove in Halifax, we would remember Thundering Sound in the Acadia National Park. Both will fill you with emotion as you take in all of the beautiful views.
As for that lobster, was it the lobster roll bought from the food truck on Peggy’s Cove, the full lobster meal in Bar Harbor, the lobster roll enjoyed seated outdoors by the water in Portland or the lobster roll in the Irish-style pub in the heart of Saint John’s Bay? They really were all wonderful.
The port stops on this Norwegian cruise are ones that I will always remember and would love to return to visit again. While I love the Caribbean port stops I have cruised to in the past, I think New England and Canada are now my favorites.
I’ve always thought that the best part of a cruise is not always the destination, but instead is the journey. That’s always been true as I enjoy my time on the ship as much as I do at the ports
While on board the Norwegian Gem, you will find so many dining options, many that are included in your ticket price and others that are a small additional charge.
One of our favorites was O’Sheehans, which does not cost extra and is open 24/7. It has huge open windows offering a great view of the ocean outside and a fun menu, including wings (which we had four times!), hot dogs and hamburgers. It’s a fun spot for one of your main meals or an afternoon or evening snack.
Another great thing about a cruise is the three-course dinners offered each evening in the dining room where the taste of each course is delicious and the presentation ensures that you take a quick pic before eating each dish.
I think another thing that made this cruise stand out is the staff, who were always so kind and offered a smile with any question that came their way.
The lady who cleaned our room, Kim; Denny in the Magenta Dining Room; Shirley Palda in the Grand Pacifica Dining Room; and Desmond, who we spotted in both dining rooms, are among those who stand out. Cruise director, Ferdie, was also a lot of fun and filled with so much energy.
One of my favorite parts of a cruise are spending my evenings at wonderful shows. Standouts on this cruise include a Whitney Houston tribute by American Idol finalist Ashlie Amber, who has such a powerful voice, and an amazing display of strength and beauty from husband-wife acrobat team, Rebecca and Phillipe.
Both are top-notch shows that would likely have a steep ticket price if you were to go see them in a big-city theater.
The cruise show team, who presented a Swing Musical and a Blazing Boots Country Musical in the main theater, as well as a Broadway review one evening in one of the smaller theaters, is wonderful. Such a talented team of singers and dancers.
Just a few more special moments from our cruise: Spending the day at sea in one of the deck chairs looking out into the ocean, eating outside at the “barbecue” that featured food made on huge grills, eating donuts made from potatoes outside on the sidewalk and watching people pass by in Portland (Maine), attending the “White Hot Party” for music and fun for our only late-night outing, drinking a blueberry soda as I sat on a dock overlooking the water in Bar Harbor, watching the sun set from the balcony of our room and touring the Titanic Grave site in Halifax and hearing some of the stories of those who lost their life in this tragic event that still fascinates people today.
We cruised out of New York City on the New England/Canada cruise. It included two stops in Maine (Bar Harbor and Portland) and two stops in Canada (Halifax and Saint John’s Bay).
To start planning your Norwegian cruise, check out the website, www.ncl.com.

Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers Inc. She can be reached at AngieEditor@aol.com.

BY ANGELA GARY
For a fun night out in New York City, check out the new Broadway musical, "Escape to Margaritaville." You will be singing along to your favorite Jimmy Buffet songs and dancing in your seat! And for a great place to stay that is located within easy walking distance of all the major attractions in Midtown Manhattan and offers spacious, comfy rooms and a friendly staff, make the Westin New York Grand Central your headquarters during your stay.
On a recent short visit to New York City, we had time for only one Broadway show and we selected “Escape to Margaritaville.” We certainly weren't disappointed with this fun musical that is a great way to escape to a tropical island for a few hours. The lobby has island decor to get you in the right frame of mind before you even enter the intimate theater, where all of the seats are "great seats."
The story line involves the good times tourists and visitors have in an island paradise. This story is interwoven with some of Buffet's most famous hits. I couldn't help but smile at the ways the songs were incorporated into the story line. One of Buffet's biggest hits, "Cheeseburger in Paradise," was featured at a wedding reception where cheeseburgers were served.
The show ends with beach balls falling across the audience where everyone keeps them bouncing in the air as they stand and sing along to the Buffet music. It's a feel-good experience that you will enjoy on your visit to NYC.
The Marquis Theatre, built in 1986, is one of the newest theaters built on Broadway. It features 1,611 seats and is a great place to catch a show.
"Escape to Margaritaville" plays through Sunday, July 1, at the Marquis Theatre – 210 West 46th Street, NYC. For tickets, call (877) 250-2929.
WHERE TO STAY
While we were in New York for a only few days before heading off on an adventure with Norwegian Cruise lines, we made sure to go to a great Broadway play, fit in time for people-watching in Times Square and check out a few great restaurants. One other important element in making for the perfect trip is to find the perfect place to make your headquarters. We did this with the Westin New York Grand Central.
The Westin New York Grand Central is a great property that is an easy walk to the theater district and all of the main attractions, dining and shopping. The hotel is located at 212 East 42nd Street, between Second and Third Avenues in the heart of the Grand Central area. It offers unmatched access to the Grand Central Terminal.
In addition to a great location, you will find spacious, comfy rooms, an on-site restaurant and gift shop and friendly staff who answer all of your questions with a smile. The views from the rooms are also great, especially at night when you can see the lights and action of the city below.
The Westin New York Grand Central opened in October 2012 with a modern design and signature Westin amenities. The hotel has 774 spacious rooms and suites, a 3,000 square-foot fitness center and THE LCL: Bar and Kitchen Restaurant.
For more information, go to www.westinnewyorkgrandcentral.com.

Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers Inc. She can be reached at AngieEditor@aol.com.

Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers Inc. She can be reached at AngieEditor@aol.com.

BY ANGELA GARY

Wandering through the winding paths in the wooded country-side to check out the exotic and wonderful animals at the zoo…Crawling through a cavern display at the aquarium to get an up close and personal look at the amazing fish…
These are just a few of the adventures that make Albany, Ga., the perfect destination for a family vacation. It’s very affordable and there is so much to do that will delight children and adults alike. On a recent visit, we enjoyed exploring the Southwest Georgia town.
Start your visit to Albany with a stop at the visitors center, where you will find information on the town, interactive displays, brochures and a gift shop. There is also a replica covered bridge behind the visitors center, as well as a playground, walking trails and a picnic area.
The visitors center is located in the Bridge House, which was built in 1858, making it one of the oldest buildings in Albany. The building has been used as a toll house, social hall, carriage house and auto parts store.
Nearby is the Flint RiverQuarium, located on the Flint River. A fun stop for the younger people in your group is the Kids Cavern of Discovery, where kids can climb through a cavern and get an up close and personal view of some of the fish. There may have even been a few adults in our group who climbed through the cavern for a photo op.
There are lots of fun photos ops at the aquarium. We posed for a group photo with the turtle sculpture at the entrance of the aquarium. Then, we found a turtle character inside for more fun photos.
While in the downtown area, be sure to stop by the Ray Charles Plaza, where you will find a lifesize sculpture of the soul musician seated at a Baby Grand piano.
Another great stop in Albany for families is Thronateeska Heritage Center, which has a history museum, science museum and planetarium and transportation museum. The Planetarium and Science Museum offers plenty of interactive and fun games for kids. The science museum has displays on arts and space, natural science, meteorology, paleontology, hydrology and archeology.
Our trip also included a visit to Chehaw, where animals are not caged but allowed to roam in larger areas. Our favorites included flamingo, cheetah, camel, rhino and meerkat.
OTHER STOPS
Other stops during our visit:
•Radium Springs and Gardens, a must stop since it’s one of Georgia’s Seven Natural Wonders.
•Tift Park Community Market, where we found lots of cool local arts and crafts and produce in the tree-lined market.
•Albany Museum of Art, where you never know what you will find as the exhibits are always changing. We enjoyed checking out the sculptures and photographs.
•Mark’s Melon Patch, where you will find jellies, jams, boiled peanuts and other Southern foods. Music weekends, hayrides, face painting offered.
DINING
Lots of great dining is offered in Albany. Our stops included:
•The Catch, which offers a wonderful selection, including Gulf shrimp, seared ahi tuna, duck, quail, alligator and frog legs. Our appetizer choices included oysters, fried pickles and lobster rolls, all of which were wonderful. For my entrée, I chose smothered grit cakes with shrimp, scallops and grouper. Save room for the dessert. The blueberry cake is delicious!
•Blackbeards, a family-style seafood restaurant. The oysters and fish fillet combo is a great choice and the serving is huge. The fried catfish is a specialty of locals and visitors. The barbecue is also great. We tried the brisket and loved it.
•Pearly Gates, which offers a country-style Southern breakfast. The link sausage biscuits with cheese and tator tots are a filling start for a day of touring. The pancakes are also a great choice.
•Harvest Moon, which offers wonderful pizza, including “shroomage,” with tomato sauce, caramelized onions, Italian sausage, Portobello and button mushrooms, topped with mozzarella cheese. Great salads offered and they make a wonderful start to your meal.
•Eggs Up Grill, where 161,940 eggs have been served up since 2016. The chocolate crunch waffles, with granola and chocolate chips, were great!
•The Bread House, where a great start is the cheesy bread bowl. There is also a gift shop with boutique clothing offered.
•Austin’s Firegrill and Oyster Bar, where I ordered the salmon, sticky rice and spinach, which is a great combination.
WHERE TO STAY
A new Holiday Inn Express is conveniently located to all of the attractions and is a great place to make your headquarters during your visit to Albany. A hot breakfast is offered. Rooms have microwave and refrigerator.
Another option for accommodations is the charming Merry Acres Inn, located at 1500 Dawson Road, where visitors step back in time to when motor lodges dotted the country-side. Built in 1952, the inn has been renovated with modern rooms on the inside but the quaint motor lodge appearance on the outside.
The Manor House Pub is located on the grounds and it’s a fun spot to gather with friends during your stay. We met there one evening before heading out to explore the area. The inn provides delivery and transportation to three wonderful restaurants: Henry Campbell’s, The Catch, and Harvest Moon.
For more information on the inn, go to www.merryacres.com.
For more information, go to www.visitalbanyga.com.
Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers Inc. She can be reached at AngieEditor@aol.com.

BY ANGELA GARY
Miss Rutha Harris sits on the stage inside Mount Zion Baptist Church wearing a black dress. She was 18-years-old when she traveled the country singing with the Freedom Singers. Fifty years later, she still sings and shares the stories of the Civil Rights Movement.
The Freedom Singers perform at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Albany, Ga., on the second Saturday of each month. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke several times at Mt. Zion.
Other women arrive at the church, younger women who have joined with Miss Rutha to keep the legacy of the Freedom Sings alive. They all head to the back of the church.
The quiet is broken when they march through the church, carrying signs and their strong voices singing, “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around.”
Miss Rutha leads the six ladies and her sign reads, “Freedom is a constant struggle.”
“We are singing the songs and telling the stories of the Civil Rights Movement,” says Angela Gibson, Miss Rutha’s niece.
She shares that, in 1962, Ralph Abernathy began singing “Ain’t Nobody Gonna Turn Me Around,” and it became the trademark anthem for the movement.
“Allow the music to motivate, to get you involved, to do something,” she told those in the audience. “These songs became a tool to motivate.”
The concert was a special moment as the pure voices, with no instruments, only hand-clapping and foot stomping, filled the historic church, which has the original wooden pews and stained glass windows. It’s a very moving experience to hear their voices raised together in this historic church as they perform spiritual and freedom songs.
The Freedom Singers traveled to 46 states. In 1998, the church became a museum and the current Freedom Singers were formed. Those performing on the recent Saturday I was in attendance included: Miss Harris, Ms. Gibson, Victoria Johnson, Geneva Fields, Jennifer Williams and Geneva Johnson.
The performance ends with the Freedom Singers and all members of the audience joining hands in chain-style and singing together.
The church is located adjacent to the Civil Rights Institute in Albany where you will learn the stories of this time in history.
One story you will learn about is the group of African American teenage girls who went to a movie in 1963 only to be arrested and jailed for two months in horrible conditions in a stockade. The girls, who slept on the concrete floor, were fed only undercooked hamburgers and shared one toilet, are remembered as the “Stolen Girls.” They were only released after attention was brought to their arrest when a young man snuck in and took photos of the conditions they were in.
These photos and the history of the “Stolen Girls” are just one of the stories visitors to the Civil Rights Institute in Albany learn about.
Another chilling story that is shared in the museum is that of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African American boy who was brutally beaten to death in 1955 by two white men who believed he had whistled at a white woman. The woman later shared that he had not whistled at her.
Visitors will get a history lesson on the Civil Rights movement as they follow the footsteps of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. when he visited this Southwest Georgia town of Albany.
The Civil Rights Movement is an important part of the history of Albany’s history and visitors should make a stop at the Civil Rights Institute, which has a very moving display on the effort.
For more information on the museum and Freedom Singers and visiting Albany, go to www.visitalbanyga.com.
Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers Inc. She can be reached at AngieEditor@aol.com.

BY ANGELA GARY
In the past few weeks, my mother has baked 46 cakes. Yes, you read that right. She has baked 46 cakes.
Mom has always loved to bake and is known for her cakes and pies. However, she has never made 46 cakes in only a few weeks time.
What would lead a retired woman with some health issues in her “senior years,” to undertake such a big project.
My nephew, Jake, is going to Hawaii in December with the East Jackson Comprehensive High School Chorus to sing at Pearl Harbor on D-Day to veterans.
The chorus has already done some fundraisers and has more planned the rest of this year. However, we decided as a family to do some fundraisers for Jake’s trip. It was my idea but my mother, as is often the case, has ended up doing most of the work.
I posted on social media about Mom making cakes to help Jake with his trip and the first few orders came in immediately. Just 24 hours later, we had more than 20 orders. The total is now 40 and we are still getting requests for cakes.
Mom bakes while I schedule the cakes and deliver them. It’s been a whirlwind and we are so beyond appreciative to our family and friends who have ordered cakes.
This latest family project only shows again how powerful the love of a mother (and grandmother) is. I know that Jake will always remember this huge project that his Nanny took on to help with this memorable trip for him.
So many times in my life, my mother has stepped in and solved problems, comforted me and prayed for me in hard times, as well as laughed and rejoiced with me in good times.
I recently had an issue with a tooth that I thought would never end. I was in so much pain and nothing really helped. When there was nothing else she could do, my mother stood by the couch looking down at me, grabbed my hand and prayed aloud for me. While the pain may have still been there, I was comforted and had peace. That’s the most important thing a mother can do.
I have so much respect for my sweet Mama and all of the other wonderful mothers out there who are a strength and comfort to their families.
Proverbs 31: 25-29: “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praises her:
Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”

Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers. She can be contacted at Angie@mainstreetnews.com.