November 2001

deb@lightpatch.com

Festivals for Travelers, Sites of the Month, Special Feature, Quotes, Opinions, Rants, Praises.

The Artsy Site Of The Month: Thomas Hart Benton's Murals As a child in Missouri, I was greatly impressed by Benton. I love the way his work compels one to move and stretch with the human forms in his murals.		Handy Site Of The Month: How To Take Care Of Your Car How to keep a car for many years, or keep it ready for a trade-in.
Web Page Design Site Of The Month: EclipseCrossword.com Add an interactive crossword puzzle to your website.		Seasonal Site Of The Month: Leonids: Predictions for 2001 If you enjoy meteor showers, you'll like the forecast.
Just Fun Site Of The Month: How To Make A Pen And Ink Drawing Use a photo portrait to begin.		Downright Serious Site Of The Month: 24th Great American Smokeout More people will quit smoking on November 15 than on any other day this year.
Historical Site Of The Month: Duke Ellington's Washington: Interview With Virginia Ali How a little restaurant on U Street has chronicled over 40 years of neighborhood history.

Think you know it all? Prove it at Frenzi.com. And if you don't know something you can get some answers there.

Buy great spices at great prices

November Events

For November Travelers

November 2-4, 2001 Louisiana Pecan Festival Front Street, Colfax, Louisiana.	Petting zoo and pony rides, carnival midway, country store with the pecan festival cookbook and pecan treats, music, arts and crafts. Friday is Children's Day. More: Call 3118-627-5196.
November 2-4, 2001 Sabine Free State Festival Unknown venue, Florien, Louisiana.	For a brief time this area was a "free state", and this festival looks back at that time with shoot-out skits, trail rides, street dances, lye soap and syrup making, and lots of food. More: Call 318-586-7655.
November 2-4, 2001 Flapjack Festival Land O'LakesCommunity Center, 5401 Land O'Lakes Boulevard, Land O'Lakes, Florida.	Carnival midway, parade, pageant, music, children's events, 5K run/1 mile walk, Mr. Legs Contest, arts and crafts, business displays, flapjack breakfasts. More: Call 813-996-5522.
November 2-4, 2001 Sunshine Festival Louisiana Square, Donaldsonville, Louisiana.	Cajun and Creole cooking contests, music and dancing, arts and crafts, carnival rides, children's activities, food. More: Call 225-473-4814.
November 2-4, 2001 Special Olympics Pennsylvania Fall Festival Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania.	Come and join families, sponsors and volunteers to cheer for the 950 participants from 44 counties. There is a Hall of Fame Dinner, Breakfast of Champions, and events that include long-distance running/walking, roller skating, powerlifting, soccer and volleyball. If you've never been to a Special Olympics event, and you think it might be dull, think again. You will come away full of hope and inspiration to change the world with new challenges. More: Call 800-235-9058 or 610-630-9450.
November 2-4, 2001 Florida Seafood Festival Battery Park, Appalachicola, Florida.	Music, parade, children's activities, arts and crafts, maritime exhibits, food. More: Call 888-653-8011.
November 2-10, 2001 National Peanut Festival U.S. 231 South, Dothan, Alabama.	BMX rally, carnival midway, recipe contests, cake decorating contest, livestock events, choral festival, food. More: Call 334-793-4323.
November 3-4, 2001 Picayune Street Fair East and West Canal Street, Picayune, Mississippi.	Entertainment and food accompany 270 booths of crafts and antiques at this event. There is no admission charge. More: Call 601-799-3070.
November 3-4, 2001 Eustis Autumn Lakefront Bikefest Ferran Park, Eustis, Florida	Bike show, biker rodeo, food, beer garden, vendors, music. Details: Call 352-357-8555.
November 3-4, 2001 Giant Omelette Celebration Magdalen Square, Abbeville, Louisiana.	More than 5000 eggs and a 12-foot wide skillet combine to create the biggest omelette you've ever seen. There will be music, arts and crafts, a parade, antique car show, Cajun food, children's events and more. More: Call 337-893-5760.
November 3-4, 2001 Toccoa Harvest Festival Downtown, Toccoa, Georgia	This will be its 26th year, and the event draws up to 10,000 people. There will be antiques, arts and crafts, entertainment, children's activities, homegrown and handmade items for sale. More information: Call 706-886-2132. Note: While you are there, see the gorgeous Toccoa Falls on the campus of Toccoa Falls College, and pay a visit to "Animal Crackers Farm" on Camp Mikell Road to see the llamas. You can email Myra Freeman to ask about a good time for a visit.
November 3-4, 2001 Alabama Pecan Festival Tillman's Corner Community Center, 5505 Plantation Road, Mobile, Alabama.	Music, comedy, food, arts and crafts, rides, pecans. More: Call 251-304-1117.
November 3-10, 2001 Sweet Potato Festival Downtown, Vardaman, Mississippi.	Sweet potato tasting booth, arts and crafts, king and queen contests, student government day. Events are free. More: Call 662-682-7559.
November 3-11, 2001 Kona Coffee Cultural Festival Various venues, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.	Pageant, coffee farms tours, lei contest, weaving workshop, floral displays, sports events, art exhibits, lantern parade, recipe contests, coffee tasting, pops concert. More: Call 808-326-7820.
November 7-11, 2001 Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, (and other field trip venues), Titusville, Florida.	Visit hotspots for birding, attend workshops and learning sessions, Saturday night social, observe bird bandings, take boat tours. More: Call 321-268-5224.
November 8-10, 2001 Harvest Festival Agriculture & Forestry Museum, 1150 Lakeland Drive, Jackson, Mississippi.	Displays and demonstrations of cotton gin, sawmill, cane mill and blacksmith shop. Admission includes tour of the museum. More: Call 800-844-8687 or 601-713-3365.
November 9-11, 2001 Spinach Festival Downtown, Crystal City, Texas.	Parade, carnival, musical entertainment, softball tournament, 5K run, food booths, more. Admission is free. More: Call 830-374-3161.
November 9-11, 2001 Beaver Bend Folk Festival & Craft Show Forest Heritage Center, Beavers Bend Park. Broken Bow, Oklahoma.	Late 19th century craft demonstrations, food, music, events for children. The event is held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. More: Call 580-494-6497.
November 9-11, 2001 Fountain Festival of Arts & Crafts Avenue of Fountains, Fountain Hills, Arizona.	Over 450 juried artists will exhibit and sell their wares at the 27th occurence of this event. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, and you can enjoy entertainment and can find food from vendors. There is no admission charge. There is limited free parking. More: Call 480-837-1654.
November10-11, 2001 Three Rivers Art Festival Columbia Street area downtown, Covington, Louisiana	This event is now in its 23rd year. There will be seafood (and other) dishes, approximately 100 juried arts and crafts booths, music, children's activities, and fireworks. The event is open 10 a.m until 5 p.m. both days, and is free. Further information: Call 985-892-1873.
November 10-11, 2001 Fest of Ville Georgia College & State University, Milledgeville, Georgia.	In its 6th year, the festival will feature arts and crafts, an appraisal fair, children's events, entertainment, baking contest, Mary Vinson Library Fair and Book Sale, tours of the Old Governor's Mansion, antique car show, trolley tours of historic downtown. More: Call 478-445-1928.
November 10-11, 2001 Festival of the Arts Holy Trinity Monastery, St. David, Arizona.	There will be over 100 arts and crafts exhibitors, music, Polynesian dancing, barbecue dinner, Benedictine baked breads and local area honeys and jams for sale, more food. Admission is free. One dollar donation is requested for parking. More: Call 520-720-4642 EXT 10.
November 10-11, 2001 Downtown Festival & Art Show Southeast First Street, Gainesville, Florida	250 arts and crafts booths, three stages of entertainment, plenty of food (everything from Caesar Salad to Greek gyros, to hot dogs), "Imagination Station" for kids. The show is in its 20th year, and admission is free. Further information: Call 352-334-5064.
November 16-17, 2001 Broadmoor Arts & Crafts Festival Broadmoor High School, 10100 Goodwood Boulevard. Baton Rouge, Louisiana	About 200 arts and crafts booths, food, and music by local school groups. This is the event's 28th year. More: Call 225-926-1420.
November 16-18, 2001 Gilbert Days Unknown venue, Gilbert, Arizona	Rodeo, carnival, arts and crafts, parade (some events are ticketed). More: Call 480-986-4425.
November 17-18, 2001 Tomato Festival Lamb & Sutton Park, Gilbert, Arizona	Tomato cooking contest, farm equipment displays and demonstrations, car show. More: Call 941-723-4580.
November 23-25, 2001 Cave Creek Fall Arts and Crafts Festival Downtown, Cave Creek, Arizona	Over 100 juried artists and crafters, wild west themed area for children, cowboy food. This is the event's 3rd year. Additional Details: Call 623-842-8434.
November 24-25, 2001 Space Coast Art Festival Downtown, Cocoa Beach, Florida.	230 juried artists, entertainment, food court, children's events and exhibits. Additional Details: Call 321-784-3322.
It's always best to call ahead to verify festival information. Please tell them you saw the information in Deb's Monthly Review. Please don't write and ask for personalized information on upcoming festivals, (unless you want to hire me!) I do not have time to do free searches for everyone who asks.

Lately the news has been full of violent images and stories of terrorism and hatred. But while these horrid things have been in the headlines, other things have been quietly happening--things that also say a lot about life in the United States--all going on while we were in shock and grief. Some of these events from September and October are lighter in scope, and some spotlight turning points in our history, but I have chosen each one for its importance as a touchstone of the times in which we live. In early October, The Federal Reserve Bank moved to cut interest rates for the second time in three weeks and the ninth time this year. Rates have not been this low since the early 1960s. Bill Gates taped a guest appearance for TV's "Frasier". The show is due to air November 13, and will be the series' 200th episode. Doctors in Kentucky reported that an experimental implant is giving patient Rod Bobblitt new movement. When Rod was fifteen, a motorcycle accident left him with a spinal cord injury, limiting movement and feeling below his chest. Rod uses the implant to stimulate muscle groups that allow him to stand for brief periods. He isn't running any marathons, but he knows his success may one day allow those with spinal cord injuries to be active in ways they have been able to only imagine up to this point. Former Rolling Stone bass player Bill Wyman turned 65 this fall. Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane) just turned 62. Dan Rather is now 70. Frankie Avalon turned 61 in September. Chuck Berry just turned 75 in October. Chubby Checker is now 60. Ray Charles turned 71 this September. Long-time game show personality Kitty Carlisle turned 91 early in September. Golfer Arnold Palmer is now 72. Fitness guru Jack LaLanne must be practicing what he preaches. He turned 87 in September. Composer Paul Williams ("We've Only Just Begun", "Rainbow Connection", "Rainy Days And Mondays") is now 61. Journalist/Commentator Paul Harvey had his 83rd birthday this fall. Isaac Stern died at the age of 81 this September. This music maker began studying piano at the age of 6. It wasn't until two years later, at the ripe old age of 8, that he took up the violin. He assisted the careers of other musical geniuses--people like YoYo Ma and Itzhak Perlman. And both of Isaac's sons are conductors. Japanese ingenuity has once again managed to circumvent the seriousness of the tragedies of the world by inventing a new gadget. With the increase in airport security, it seems that occasionally ladies' bras have been setting off the alarms in some airport metal detectors. A firm in Japan has come up with the "Frequent Flyer" bra, which uses nonmagnetic fasteners that will not set off the alarms. Researchers have been studying laughter in humans, and have found that song-like noises made while laughing are more pleasing to human ears than snorts or grunts. It also seems that women will laugh more in the presence of a male friend than they will if they are with a female friend or with a male stranger. Men laugh more often with friends (of either gender) than with strangers (of either gender). A collection of examples of items forbidden in the dress codes at various public high schools in the U.S. for the 2001-2002 school year include: hair nets, house slippers, baggy pants, clothing with holes, chains, headbands, waist pouches, leggings, trenchcoats, items made of Spandex, apparel promoting the use of tobacco or alcohol, goggles, strapless sandals, earrings on males, visible piercings on any part of the body except ears, and sleeveless shirts. Otis Young died at age 69. He was among the first black actors to have "star" billing on TV, in the old series "The Outcasts".We also said good-bye to jazz singer Etta Jones, who was 72 years old. Producer Maurice "Bud" Rifkin (do you remember the old show "Sea Hunt"?) died at the age of 88. (Rifkin also did many "National Geographic Specials".) Song writer Jay Livingston died at age 86 (he co-wrote the Christmas song "Silver Bells"). The Mars Odyssey spacecraft entered orbit around Mars in October. The craft will be looking for signs of (past) water, checking mineral composition, and determining radiation levels of the planet's surface. One of the Votomatic machines that caused such controversy in Florida during the 2000 presidential election has been given to the Florida Center for Political History and Governance, in Tallahassee. The election difficulties added previously rare terms such as "dimpled chad" to everyday American conversation for weeks. The Elm Street Congregational Church in Southbridge, Massachusetts celebrated its 200th Anniversary on September 16, 2001. The congregation originally grew out of an organizational meeting by pastors and delegates who gathered at the Freeman Tavern. The original membership consisted of 8 men and 13 women. Current membership stands at 273. It was 30 years ago this October 12 that "Jesus Christ Superstar" premiered on Broadway. "I Love Lucy" premiered on TV fifty years ago this October 15. 46 years ago "Gunsmoke" first aired in September of 1955. "The Dick Van Dyke Show" had its first TV broadcast 40 years ago, October 3, 1961. 35 years ago, in September of 1966, "Star Trek" began to take us "where no man has gone before". TV series "M*A*S*H" first aired 29 years ago in September of 1972. As we prepare to publish this issue, the New York Times Best Sellers shows "Midnight Bayou", by Nora Roberts, edging out "Isle Of Dogs", by Patricia Cornwell, for best selling fiction. In non-fiction, "Germs", by Judith Miller tops the list, with "The Final Days", by Barbara Olsen in second place. And in case you're worried about today's youth, remember that every generation has its heroes, its overcomers, its visionaries and its artists. You may enjoy reading A Youth Liberation Movement Is Taking Shape. It isn't always easy. This Harris Poll indicated that, while young people want to make a difference in their community, they don't always have confidence in the same channels that adults use--ones such as politics. Perhaps these young ones are wiser than we think. During the weeks following the September 11 tragedies, researchers came out with a report that finds a link between music and the pleasure "spots" in the human brain. The same area of the brain that responds to stimuli such as lovemaking and tasty food also seems to be responsive to any music that gives listeners "chills". This will come as no surprise to folks who already spend a lot of time listening to, or creating, music. While scientists admit that enjoying lovemaking and the taste of food contribute to the propagation of the species, but they aren't quite sure how music fits into this picture. Personally, I don't like it when scientists feel they must drag every issue into an evolutionary arena. Some things in life are meant to be elusive, and are meant to transcend the everyday survival each generation finds itself facing, even in times such as these following September 11, 2001. Music lifts us up beyond our cares and worries, and prepares us for something better. The rhythm of American life continued right through the sadness and loss we have experienced this fall. And we are reminded that life is more than just survival. It is seeing the first snowfall, or tasting Pecan Fudge Brownie ice cream, or hearing the crunch of fallen leaves while you walk with someone you love, or experiencing the warm reaches of a cello or the steady beat of percussion.

Dare we put it this way? The beat goes on.

Once upon a time there was a man with a gentle voice and quiet charm. He made several movies and worked in a TV show playing a character who rode a motorcycle from town to town, touching lives, and singing a little here and there. Then some of us didn't hear much of him for awhile. We wondered if he would ever come to sing for us again.
Michael Parks is not only singing, but he recorded 17 songs for us to enjoy. If you haven't closed your eyes and dared to dream for a long while, take heart. These are songs to dream by. And you'll believe he sings just for you. This one was worth waiting for. Take a trip to Listen Recordings where you can order your copy.

We're pleased to host the work of artisan Joan Garnand on our little patch of light on the web. Joan's creations are finally finding their way out of her Tennessee community and into the hearts of admirers everywhere. Check out Joan's zucchini/squash casserole recipe. This busy lady also began her TV stint this past spring, and is sharing her cake decorating and candy-making skills on a local Chattanooga station. She has spent this summer doing face painting and hand-painted stationery at Tennessee festivals.
The USO has been serving our men and women in the military branches since the 1940s. Even before the events of September 11, 2001, entertainer Wayne Newton was in touch with the USO to revamp and renew its commitment to meet the spiritual, social, educational and entertainment needs of people (and their families) who serve in our armed forces. The USO is a volunteer organization, and receives funding from corporations and from folks like you and I who want to help. You can give online right now at Donate Now. Or, call 1-800-876-7469.
Looking for something to dress up your holiday table(s) this year? You can do a Sugared Fruit Centerpiece. Another great thing to do is to incorporate your collectibles into your table. Model trains, minerals and gemstones, rubber stamps, figurines, holiday village pieces, coins, coin banks, antique bottles and even ephemera (protect from food splatters) can all be incorporated into centerpieces that will grace the table and spark plenty of dinner conversation.		Every now and then I enjoy spotlighting this nice guy's product page. He's done the skateboard one better, with his Bladeboard. This type of board offers maneuverability you'll never get with a plain skateboard. If you're looking for a gift for a special boarder this holiday season, take a look.
If you don't cook whole turkeys at Thanksgiving or don't need a turkey-size bird, or even if you are short on oven space, here's a way to stretch your kitchen space and also make use of another appliance. Try doing A Whole Baked Chicken In A Crock. If you're a spicy foods lover, put a little extra heat into your Thanksgiving meal with this Hot and Spicy Cranberry Salad.

Find great restaurant reviews and more at DINE.com

Registration for Learn.com is quick and free! You can also write your own courses and if your course is chosen to be published for public viewing, you can earn too. Learn to write a better resume. Improve your English grammar skills. Learn to maintain a sewing machine. Get tips on day trading.		Rubber stamp collectors! Did you send for yours yet? Anne-Made Designs has a 258-page catalog. To get yours, you'll need a check for $8.50. (if you are new to stamping, I should tell you it's a common practice to pay for catalogs) This will get you a full catalog and supplements, plus first-timers get a 3-by-5 card of assorted unmounted stamps to enjoy (Anne's choice).
Why pay full price for new clothes?		Send your $8.50 to: Anne-Made Designs Anne Olney PO Box 697-D Erwin TN 37650 You can tell Anne I sent you, but she'll give you prompt, professional service anyway--it's just her style.

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Deb's Monthly Review is copyrighted! Do be a dear and ask before you lift whole portions of the Special Review or something. Remember! Those of us who publish on the web are not saying our work is in the public domain. When in doubt about your use of someone's else's writings or graphics, ask! If you want to use graphics or text on a commercial page, contact me first, please, and we'll work something out.

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