PAGE 5 September 2022
FIDDLERS CONVENTION - The 2022 Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention will be held on October 6-8 at Athens State University. The event will kickoff on 7 p.m on Thursday, October 6. Tickets are available at eventbrite.com starting at $17. DEFENSIVE CARRY COURSE - There will be a Women's Defensive Carry Course at the Hampton Inn in Guntersville from 6-9 p.m. on September 27. The cost is $25. For more info visit www.focusedfire-training.com or call 866-382-9111. MENTONE COLORFEST - The annual Mentone Colorfest will be held on October 15-16 beginning at 9 a.m. each day at Moon Lake Village. CULLMAN OCTOBERFEST - The 41st annual Cullman Octoberfest will be held on September 29 through October 1, 2022. This festival features a biergarten with German and local craft beers, live music, food, kid and adult activities. REGISTRATION - Registration for Gadsden State Community College’s fall semester terms continues through Oct. 17. Classes begin Oct. 14 for the fall mini 2 term. Visit www.gadsdenstate.edu and click on the link to “ONEACCS” at the top of the page to begin the registration process. To be admitted, go to gadsdenstate.edu/apply. For more information regarding admission or registration, email admissions@gadsdenstate.edu. DOUGLAS AREA SENIORS - The Douglas Senior Center offers fellowship with area senior citizens, games and a nutritious meal each weekday. The Senior Center is located at 335 Stadium Circle in Douglas, which is across from the High School. The senior center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. for those age 60 and older. In addition to food and games, the facility has exercise equipment, quilting facilities, and a pool table. A computer and sewing machines are also available. BBQ FESTIVAL - The 7th annual Scottsboro BBQ festival is set for October 8, 2022. To register or for more information visit www.scottsborobbqfestival.com PUMPKIN FESTIVAL - The first annual pumpkin festival will be held on October 1, 2022 at the Fyffe Town Park. The event will begin at 10 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. For more information call 256-605-7399. YARD SALE - There will be a yard sale on Saturday, September 24 at the North Broad Street Church of Christ, located at 308 North Broad Street in Albertville. The event will begin at 6:30 a.m. The proceeds will help purchase Christmas gifts for school children. FALL FAMILY FEST - The second annual community Fall Family Fest will be held on October 22, 2022 from 5-9 p.m. in downtown Arab. There will be food trucks, cotton candy, games, street dancing and more. CLASS REUNION - The 9th grade Class of Asbury Junior High School will have a Class Reunion on Saturday, September 24, 2022. The event will start at noon at "Hammers Hall" at Local Joe's Restaurant in Albertville. To make reservations please contact Betty Gilbreath or Tony Simmons by Facebook or at 256-571-5996. FLY-IN - The Northeast Alabama Regional Airport in Gadsden will hold an Airport Fly-In/Drive-In on Saturday, October 1, 2022 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will include Airplanes, classic cars, food trucks and more. For additional information call 256-549-0351. VETERAN'S DAY CELEBRATION - There will be a Veteran's Day Celebration at the Cullman Regional Airport on Saturday, November 5, 2022 starting at 9 a.m. For more information visit www.cullmanveteransday.com RIT 5K PUMPKIN RUN - The 2022 RIT 5K Pumpkin Run will be held on Saturday, October 22 in Rainsville. The event will start at 8 a.m. Registration can be done online at www.runsignup.com ACT PREP COURSES - Gadsden State Community College’s Continuing Education Program is offering ACT preparation courses covering four core subjects – English, reading, math and science. Classes will meet at the Cardinal Tutoring Center located in Allen Hall on the Wallace Drive Campus. The session dates, times and course offerings are as follows: • October 1 from 8 a.m. to noon – English, reading, math and science • November 29 from 5 to 7 p.m. – English and reading • December 1 from 5 to 7 p.m. – Math and science Students can register for the session(s) of their choice. Registration cost is $60 each for either Tuesday or Thursday session. Registration is $99 for both weekday sessions and for the Saturday session which includes four hours of instruction covering the four core subjects. Once a student registers, a confirmation email will be sent containing instructions and items needed for the class. To register for any of the Continuing Education classes, visit www. gadsdenstate.edu/continuinged. For more information, please call Pam Clough, director of Continuing Education, at 256-549-8462 or email pclough@gadsdenstate.edu
SSCC Street Singers Name New Director
Snead State Community College has a new director for one of the student music ensembles. Gina Garmon of Rainbow City will step in as Director for the College Street Singers in time to celebrate Snead State’s 125th Anniversary. “I am so excited to begin my time here at Snead,” Mrs. Garmon said. She comes to the College with 29 years teaching experience, all with the Gadsden City System. After graduation from Jacksonville State University, she was hired as a general music teacher and middle school choral director for Gadsden City Schools. The final 15 years of her career with GCS were spent serving as the Choral Director at Gadsden City High School, where she conducted two choirs and started a show choir. She retired at the end of the school year last year. “My choirs performed at many civic events, Carnegie Hall, Disney World, Disneyland, and in Hawaii for the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor,” she said. Mrs. Garmon earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education with a concentration in Vocal/Choral Music from Jacksonville State University. Her major instrument is the piano, and while she was at JSU, she served as the accompanist for the JSU Show Choir. Prior to applying for the College Street Singer Director position, Mrs. Garmon was familiar with the ensemble and the program’s reputation. “I discovered that I knew many people who had been a part of the group over the years. The reputation was one of excellence, which is what drew me to the position,” she said. She also plans to be a part of the College’s tradition of providing excellent education. “My main role would be that of an educator. In order to perform well, students must possess a level of basic music knowledge and correct vocal technique, and I want to work with them to improve their skills. I also would like to be a resource for any choir directors or music teachers in the area. I want to grow those relationships to help build our program for the future,” she said. “Finally, I want to be available to offer entertainment for the City of Boaz and surrounding areas.” Building relationships with students, the college and the community is one of Mrs. Garmon’s top goals for her first year as Director. She wants to see the College Street Singers play a large role in recruiting other students to the Fine Arts Department as much as to the ensemble itself. She has already started planning the repertoire for the group’s performances this year. “We are starting off the Fall Semester with pop music, ranging from some
Gisel Zavala-Mendez was named the 2022 Homecoming Queen at Sardis High School during pregame festivities on Friday, September 16. Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, Alabama Ledger Sardis Homecoming Queen
Gina Garmon
from the 1970s all the way up to music that is popular today. We also plan to have a religious program set in order to sing at churches and, of course, holiday music for the upcoming Christmas season. I would love to do some joint performances with the Jazz Band and perhaps some music from the big band era. My goal is to also get the group into as many schools as we can,” she said. The College Street Singers began in 1974, when the Chairman of the Music Department, the late Glenn Maze, attended a summer conference that featured an ensemble named Re-generation directed by Derrick Johnson, who is known for his work with Disney. Mr. Maze returned to Boaz and met with the late Rebecca Lancaster, a vocal instructor at the College at that time, about the idea of organizing a similar group. By the fall, ten singers and a sound technician had been enlisted, and the Freedom Singers were formed. The group took the name Freedom Singers in anticipation of the country’s bicentennial Celebration. During the first year of their existence, the Freedom Singers performed 50 times and set a precedence of excellence and pride. In 1977, the group changed their format from patriotic music to sacred and variety entertainment. They also changed their name to the College Street Singers after the major street running through the Snead State campus. They continued to perform in schools, churches, and civic organizations and events and averaged 30-40 performances per year. In 1990, the group appeared at Carnegie Hall with the Manhattan Symphony Orchestra. “I am excited to be a part of this tradition. I want to especially thank (Fine Arts Division Director) Dr. Barbara Hudson for welcoming me into the music family and for being so kind and gracious in assisting me.” Mrs. Garmon has been married to Richard Garmon for 24 years, and the couple has four children. The Garmons are active members of Meadowbrook Baptist Church. Mrs. Garmon is the founding director of the Gadsden Youth Chorus, a community youth choir for Etowah and surrounding counties.
Hannah Floriano was crowned the 2022 Homecoming Queen at Asbury High School on Thursday, September 1. Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, Alabama Ledger Asbury Homecoming Queen
FALKVILLE FALL FEST - The annual Town of Falkville Fall Festival is set for October 8, 2022. A pancake breakfast at the Volunteer Fire Department kicks things off at 7 a.m. where plenty of the fluffy hot cakes will be served until 11 a.m. Donations to the Fire Department will be accepted at the door. The Color Me Downtown 5K run/walk hits the streets at 8 a.m. beginning at the pavilion located at 1076 Culver Road, with arts and crafts vendors, a car show, antique tractor show and food vendors set up for everyone to enjoy throughout the day along with live music. Bingo gets underway at 9 a.m. and for children, there will be plenty of fun and games, including a mechanical bull, to keep them entertained throughout the day. There will also be live music starting at 8:00 a.m. with the National Anthem. Other music includes: 8:15 a.m. - Brewer FFA Band; 9:00 a.m. - Dry Creek Bluegrass; 10:30 a.m. - Living Faith; and 12-2:00 p.m. - Duane Walker. All activities take place in the town’s downtown area. The event wraps up at 3 p.m. Admission is free. Falkville is located between Huntsville and Birmingham off of exit 322 on Interstate 65. For more info contact the Falkville Town Hall at 256.784.5922. Senator Steve Livingston, second from right, is shown presenting a check to Kerry Wright, Dean of Workforce at Northeast Alabama Community College. Others pictured are Mike Kirkland (L) of the NACC Foundation and Republican candidate for the Alabama House of Representatives, District 23, and NACC Business Manager Rodney Bone (R). Senator Livingston secured a state appropriation of one million dollars to go toward the construction of NACC’s Workforce Development Center, plans for which are being finalized. NACC’s proposed workforce center is estimated to cost $25 million. Submitted Photo Workforce Development Funds
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