New "Saturday Strolls" series in Watkinsville
Pat Priest worked very hard to gather a wide variety of leaders in the community to direct walking tours around Watkinsville. I will try to go on as many as possible before the soccer season starts again in earnest.
Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.
From: ppriest@charter.net
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 2009 22:38:01 -0400
Subject: [oconee] New "Saturday Strolls" series in Watkinsville
Hi!
Wanted to let people know about something the Oconee Democrats have been working on that will debut on Saturday, July 18th!
We're starting a series of "Saturday Strolls" of guided walks around Watkinsville with experts and with some of the area's citizens who make Oconee County a special place to live and visit.
The strolls will start at 9 AM in front of the County Courthouse -- right across from the Saturday Farmers Market at the Eagle Tavern. People can pick up some delectable fresh produce and baked goods such as sweet potato pie . . . then join us to get a dose of history . . . meet interesting locals . . . and get exercise, too.
Though the Oconee Democrats have organized the series, many nice Republicans have pitched in serve as volunteer guides. See the full schedule -- through October -- pasted in below. Each stroll will be unique. Some will focus on an aspect of the built or natural environment: historic preservation, trees and gardening, history, and more. Others will be informal rambles that provide a kind of lens that highlights some of the guides' favorite things worth a closer look.
The hour-long strolls cost $5 per person. Children under 12 are free, although they must be accompanied by an adult.
The money raised each week will be donated to a non-profit chosen by the
person leading the walk. Guides have already mentioned Extra Special People, Nuci's Space, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation as among those they plan to support with their day's earnings.
The first stroll on July 18th will take participants to Full Moon Studio, where R.E.M., John Mayer, and Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland -- among many other great recording artists -- have made music heard around the world. Studio owner Mark Cooper Smith, a fine musician himself, will lead the walk that morning.
Other volunteer guides include Kevan Williams, a columnist for Flagpole; Representative Bob Smith; Oconee County Chairman Melvin Davis; and Reverend Kevin Daniel, the minister of the historic African-American
Bethel Baptist Church.
Dr. Robert Wyatt is another one of the locals who will lead one of the Saturday morning walks. A retired Botany professor at the University of Georgia, he'll be leading a stroll on October 17th -- the date for the Oconee Fall Festival -- when he'll point out some of the unusual trees and lovely planted areas in the downtown area on that fine fall day.
There will be some unusual strolls, too. I'll be leading a "sound walk," a stroll that asks people to walk silently and tune in to the aural environment -- something that sounds really odd (and certainly not worth $5!) but is actually quite fun and rewarding!
Please tell your friends . . . bring your friends . . . join us!
People interested in joining the strolls should meet in front of the Oconee County Courthouse (23 North Main Street in Watkinsville) a little before nine AM. Plenty of free parking is available behind the courthouse and elsewhere just off Main Street.
Hope to see you one Saturday!
Sincerely,
Pat Priest (and Ann Stoneburner, who has also worked to coordinate this
series)
---------------------
Saturday Stroll Basics
Informal, hour-long walks
Start at 9 AM
$5 per person
Meet in front of the Oconee County Courthouse
23 N. Main Street in Watkinsville
No reservations required. Drop in!
Children under 12 are free but must be accompanied by an adult.
We'll walk in a light rain but not in a downpour or thunderstorm!
This line-up may change because of unforeseen circumstances.
Saturday Strolls Schedule
July 18
Mark Cooper Smith
Music Producer/Owner, Full Moon Studios
July 25
Peggy Holcomb
Director of Tourism
August 1
Reverend Kevin Daniel
Bethel Baptist Church
August 8
Joe Ruiz
Director, Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation
August 15
Representative Bob Smith (R)
Georgia House of Representatives
August 22
Kevan Williams
Columnist, Flagpole Magazine
August 29
Jim Luken
Mayor of Watkinsville
September 5
Chairman Melvin Davis
Oconee County Board of Commissioners
September 12
Mary Mellein
Chair, Keep Oconee Beautiful
September 19
Sheriff Scott Berry
Oconee County Sheriff's Office
September 26
Commissioner Chuck Horton
Oconee County Board of Commissioners
October 3
Patricia Priest
Independent producer and writer for public radio
October 10
Geoff Seila
Owner, Art Masters Gallery
October 17 [In conjunction with the Oconee Fall Festival]
Dr. Robert Wyatt
Retired Botany professor, UGA
and Director Emeritus, Highlands [NC] Biological Station
October 24
Dr. Liz Kramer
Conservation Ecologist,
UGA's Ag Economics and Ag Engineering departments
October 31
Kathy and Jerry Chappelle
Artists and owners, Chappelle Gallery
From: ppriest@charter.net
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 2009 22:38:01 -0400
Subject: [oconee] New "Saturday Strolls" series in Watkinsville
Hi!
Wanted to let people know about something the Oconee Democrats have been working on that will debut on Saturday, July 18th!
We're starting a series of "Saturday Strolls" of guided walks around Watkinsville with experts and with some of the area's citizens who make Oconee County a special place to live and visit.
The strolls will start at 9 AM in front of the County Courthouse -- right across from the Saturday Farmers Market at the Eagle Tavern. People can pick up some delectable fresh produce and baked goods such as sweet potato pie . . . then join us to get a dose of history . . . meet interesting locals . . . and get exercise, too.
Though the Oconee Democrats have organized the series, many nice Republicans have pitched in serve as volunteer guides. See the full schedule -- through October -- pasted in below. Each stroll will be unique. Some will focus on an aspect of the built or natural environment: historic preservation, trees and gardening, history, and more. Others will be informal rambles that provide a kind of lens that highlights some of the guides' favorite things worth a closer look.
The hour-long strolls cost $5 per person. Children under 12 are free, although they must be accompanied by an adult.
The money raised each week will be donated to a non-profit chosen by the
person leading the walk. Guides have already mentioned Extra Special People, Nuci's Space, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation as among those they plan to support with their day's earnings.
The first stroll on July 18th will take participants to Full Moon Studio, where R.E.M., John Mayer, and Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland -- among many other great recording artists -- have made music heard around the world. Studio owner Mark Cooper Smith, a fine musician himself, will lead the walk that morning.
Other volunteer guides include Kevan Williams, a columnist for Flagpole; Representative Bob Smith; Oconee County Chairman Melvin Davis; and Reverend Kevin Daniel, the minister of the historic African-American
Bethel Baptist Church.
Dr. Robert Wyatt is another one of the locals who will lead one of the Saturday morning walks. A retired Botany professor at the University of Georgia, he'll be leading a stroll on October 17th -- the date for the Oconee Fall Festival -- when he'll point out some of the unusual trees and lovely planted areas in the downtown area on that fine fall day.
There will be some unusual strolls, too. I'll be leading a "sound walk," a stroll that asks people to walk silently and tune in to the aural environment -- something that sounds really odd (and certainly not worth $5!) but is actually quite fun and rewarding!
Please tell your friends . . . bring your friends . . . join us!
People interested in joining the strolls should meet in front of the Oconee County Courthouse (23 North Main Street in Watkinsville) a little before nine AM. Plenty of free parking is available behind the courthouse and elsewhere just off Main Street.
Hope to see you one Saturday!
Sincerely,
Pat Priest (and Ann Stoneburner, who has also worked to coordinate this
series)
------------
Saturday Stroll Basics
Informal, hour-long walks
Start at 9 AM
$5 per person
Meet in front of the Oconee County Courthouse
23 N. Main Street in Watkinsville
No reservations required. Drop in!
Children under 12 are free but must be accompanied by an adult.
We'll walk in a light rain but not in a downpour or thunderstorm!
This line-up may change because of unforeseen circumstances.
Saturday Strolls Schedule
July 18
Mark Cooper Smith
Music Producer/Owner, Full Moon Studios
July 25
Peggy Holcomb
Director of Tourism
August 1
Reverend Kevin Daniel
Bethel Baptist Church
August 8
Joe Ruiz
Director, Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation
August 15
Representative Bob Smith (R)
Georgia House of Representatives
August 22
Kevan Williams
Columnist, Flagpole Magazine
August 29
Jim Luken
Mayor of Watkinsville
September 5
Chairman Melvin Davis
Oconee County Board of Commissioners
September 12
Mary Mellein
Chair, Keep Oconee Beautiful
September 19
Sheriff Scott Berry
Oconee County Sheriff's Office
September 26
Commissioner Chuck Horton
Oconee County Board of Commissioners
October 3
Patricia Priest
Independent producer and writer for public radio
October 10
Geoff Seila
Owner, Art Masters Gallery
October 17 [In conjunction with the Oconee Fall Festival]
Dr. Robert Wyatt
Retired Botany professor, UGA
and Director Emeritus, Highlands [NC] Biological Station
October 24
Dr. Liz Kramer
Conservation Ecologist,
UGA's Ag Economics and Ag Engineering departments
October 31
Kathy and Jerry Chappelle
Artists and owners, Chappelle Gallery
.
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