Just a Link

All I am doing today is providing a link to the Branson Tourism Center"s new Up Close and Personal site which will periodically publish interviews with the different Branson stars. This first interview is with Tim Haygood. It just so happens that my blog post from yesterday was partly about the Haygoods so be sure and scroll on down and read that, too. I think you will enjoy learning more about this talented family.

Here's the link http://news.branson.com/2010/02/26/branson-up-close-and-personal-with-timothy-haygood/

Loaves and Fishes, Hope on the Road, and the Haygoods

Three times a week, I run into the Hollister Spirits Shop convenience store to grab a free Branson Daily Independent newspaper. This particular newspaper has a little national news and a little state news along with some classified ads, but it primarily focuses on what is going on in the Branson area—in the entertainment industry, but also in the community. What caught my eye one day was an article about how the Haygood family treated the clients of Loaves and Fishes to a free show.

Loaves and Fishes is a local program that provides a free evening meal to needy area residents at seven different Branson churches. The meals themselves are donated by a variety of groups—the churches, boy scouts, area restaurants, social clubs, etc. In 2009, Loaves and Fishes spanned 10 weeks and served over 8,000 meals. This year’s program is 12 weeks long lasting from January 4 through March 13. Feeding the hungry is certainly a worthy endeavor, but it occurred to Bransonite, Abby Lewis, that there were many people needing meals that had no transportation and, therefore, could not take advantage of these free meals. As a result of this revelation, Hope on the Road was born.  The Hollister YMCA has donated the use of its bus to run a set route every night picking up people at designated spots, delivering them to the appropriate location and then returning them to their pick up point. My husband and I saw this full size school bus go by one evening, and it was totally packed with men, women, and children. In fact, so many people are needing transportation that there has been talk of possibly putting a second YMCA bus into operation.              

Now back to the headline from the Branson Daily Independent that first caught my eye: Haygoods provide free show to ‘Loaves & Fishes’ recipients.   In addition to the free performance, the 7 brothers and 1 sister handed out Haygood teddy bears to each of the 150 people who attended.  While it is essential that people’s basic needs be met, it is also important that the human spirit be occasionally lifted. When we attend to a person’s  morale, we better enable them to face the challenges of everyday life, so kudos to the Haygoods for giving this group of people an evening of fun!
This is just one example of the generosity of Branson’s entertainment industry. My husband and I have split our time between Branson and OKC for one year now, but I’ve already noticed many instances of performers donating their time, their talent, their theater space, or their money to better the community that has been so good to them. I am glad these entertainers realize that, while their paychecks may be provided by the tourists, Branson could not have become The Live Entertainment Capital of the World without the support and hard work of its local citizenry, and that, like it or not, some of these citizens sometimes need a helping hand.

Helping those who are less fortunate is the right thing for each and every one of us to do. Loaves and Fishes and Hope on the Road are two local programs run by and funded by volunteers. The 2010 season is almost over, but if you would like to assist them by helping at one of the churches, by driving a bus (if you have the proper certification), by being a greeter on the bus, or by donating money to help pay for the bus’s gas, you can contact  Abby Lewis at healingnaturally@suddenlink.net.

Not So Dreary Days After All

Note: I didn't get this posted until about a week after I originally wrote it so if my time frame seems a little off, that is why.

 My understanding is that the average winter temperature in Branson is in the mid 40s to low 50s, but despite Global Warming, we are having a hard time staying in the 40s this year. I could be upset, because I am not really a cold weather person, but it isn't any better in OKC where we moved from this time last year. In fact it has been worse, and in Odessa, Texas where I grew up, they have had an unusual amount of cold, rainy weather. They wouldn't mind a little Global Warming right now, either. The snow was beautiful here until it started to melt and then refroze making it treacherous to walk on, and I have a bruise the size of a softball as proof of this dangerous situation. Most of last week's 6" of snow is now gone, but now we are looking at several days of gray, cold, dreary drizzle. The sun occasionally managed to break through the clouds yesterday (Wednesday), and whenever it did, you'd better believe I positioned myself to soak up as many rays as possible. All of this would be a lot more bearable, maybe even pleasant, if I had a working fireplace in front of which I could park myself with a good book. I don't, so I might as well move on to a less dreary subject.

Here are a few events on the horizon that will serve to lift your winter weary spirit:


Sweetheart Month – Renew Your Vows!
Through Feb. 28 at Titanic Branson
What could be more heart-warming than a wedding? During the month of February you can renew your wedding vows on the beautiful Grand Staircase of the Titanic. According to explorebranson.com, there were 1800 wedding renewals last year! Reservations are required

• Feb 5 - 6: 7 pm Friday and Saturday,  2 pm Sunday-- Tri-Lakes Community Theatre's          "Pirates of Penzance" -- Branson Star Theater, 3750 W. Highway 76 (behind Olive Garden)   If you would like to know more about the production put on by the Tri-Lakes Community Theatre then click on the link above.

• Feb 8: 7pm Monday (Rescheduled to Wed., Feb. 17)-- Hot Winter Fun Big Show -- Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theater on Highway 76.  Call 339-3003 for tickets  Cost is $30 for adults and $9.95 for children 4-12 (plus fees and taxes) Ease yourself out of those winter doldrums by attending the 16th Annual Hot Winter Fun Big Show where performers from at least 19 shows open during the months of January, February, and March give you a sample of their 2010 shows. You'll see some of the old favorites and some that are new to the Branson scene. Click on the link above if you'd like to learn more about the Hot Winter Fun Big Show or see a list of performances.                                                                                                                                                

• Feb. 19-21, Feb. 26-28: Fri. & Sat. 7 pm, Sun. 2 pm                                                            A Night of One Act Plays  at the Star  Theater (behind Olive Garden) :                                                                                                                "What Did You Say What For" , "The Bachelor's Holiday",  "This is a Play"                                                                                                                                                                       

• Feb 24: 7pm Wed. -- Branson Gong Show -- Dick Clark's Legends Theater on Highway 76 -- Benefit for the Branson Senior Center and Meals on Wheels. I'm guessing that  Branson's 1st Annual Gong Show will prove to be as crazy and as fun as the original TV show I remember from the 70s  The host will be Jim Barber and the judges will be Jim Stafford, Buck Trent, Dave Hamner, Yakov Smirnoff and Mayor Raeanne Presley. I'm laughing already.

• Feb 26, 7pm Fri. -- Dancing with the Stars for Branson HS Project Graduation. Music City Center on Hwy 76. Adults $8, children and students $5. I haven't found any more info. on this event. It's a good cause, though, and probably a lot of fun.

• Feb 26 - 28 -- 14th Annual Branson Tri-Lakes Building and Home Show, Branson Convention Center -- www.tvcevents.com    Tickets are $4.00 at the door  
  
  
  
  

  2010 Show Dates and Times Fri - Feb. 26 Sat - Feb. 27 Sun - Feb. 28 2-8 PM 9 AM -5 PM 11 AM - 5 PM

I don't know about you, but I 'm feeling better already!