Fried pie recipe...check out Momma Shirley's  recipe on the Athens Grease Festival blog.

Yum!

 Email us if you'd like to be notified of volunteer opportunities for the Athens Grease Festival.  We are looking for committee chairs, committee members, and workers the day of the event.

Be sure to also check out the festival website for updates.

We had a great turnout for the annual Easter Egg Hunt and Spring Open House on April 6.  Hundreds of children stampeded the courthouse lawn looking for prize eggs and businesses were hopping with customers looking for those last minute Easter treats.

Volunteers stuff 2000 eggs!

Special thanks to participating businesses; Bennett's Clothing, Pablos on Market, Center for Lifelong Learning, Claborn Specialties, Pimentos, Hyatt and Sims, Crawford's Gifts, LuVicis, UG White and Trinitys.

To see more photos, visit AthensPlus.  

 

Members of the Organization committee Kay Kime, Deborah Daws and Diane Lehr, promote being healthy and walking downtown.  Spirit of Athens distributing walking route information, iWalk tshirts, and pedometers courtesy of Westside Jiffy Pharmacy.

Residents will soon see 16 new banners downtown made possible by a donation from Athens Rotary Club.  The "Square" banner was designed by Arnett Muldrow & Associates during the city branding campaign conducted last fall.  The 30 x 30 banners will replace the current banners downtown.  When asked during focus group work sessions, the attendees said they referred the downtown area as "The Square."  Ben Muldrow of Arnett Muldrow & Associates, said the new image "embraced the local vernacular." 

The Athens Rotary Club is also funding 16 new Christmas banners that will use another image created during the city branding campaign. 

Three new bike racks should be in place in the next 6-8 weeks.  Keep Athens Limestone Beautiful sponsored two racks and West End Outdoors sponsored one.  The racks will be placed near Village Pizza, Limestone Drug, and the Center for Lifelong Learning.   

Spirit of Athens appreciates these sponsors in making these improvements projects possible in our downtown.  

Volunteer Spotlight
by Pam Hartmann, Organization committee


 

Letisha Brinkley, SOA Board member and Promotion Chair

"I remember when I would come to visit my Grandad in the summer, he would take me and my siblings to Athens Limestone Drugs for an ice cream cone."

These are the childhood memories that linger forever in the back of one's mind-   a trip to downtown Athens with Grandad on a sultry, summer afternoon for a special treat.   Seen through the eyes of a child, this magic moment was one of many memories that kept calling local realtor Latisha Brinkley back to Athens.  Although born in Huntsville, Letisha's family moved to California when she was two, and she remained there until her late teens.  When  faced with the choice of where to live  upon her move back to the area, she remembered  how she loved the "old time charm and warmth that Athens offers."  Like so many natives, Brinkley admits that it wasn't until she grew up that she came to truly appreciate and acknowledge the beauty of Athens.

Spending time with friends downtown, eating lunch and going shopping in the many boutiques on the square reminded Brinkley how much of a treasure the area offered.  She credits Trisha Black- S.O.A  Director and Diane Lehr- S.O.A. Organization Committee Chair with igniting her desire to get involved with Spirit of Athens, after seeing how passionate they were for the program.

Enthusiastic about her decision, Brinkley stated  "I believe in what Spirit of Athens stands for. I support this program because of what if offers the community and also because of the awesome people that serve in it."

 Brinkley was invited to be on the board of Spirit of Athens in January of 2011 and is now serving as Promotions chairperson.  So what is the Promotions committee all about?  Brinkley summed it up perfectly-  "We are the mouth of the south, so to speak!  It's our job to promote the downtown as a whole, support downtown businesses and promote events downtown.  I believe in the heart of a community and when the heart is beating, the rest of the body can survive!  The downtown area is the heart of Athens."

Letisha recently celebrated her 13th wedding anniversary with her husband Kenny Brinkley of Kenny's Kutz.  They are proud parents to Jamie, Skye and Hannah.  Kenny shares his wife's love of downtown Athens and is owner of Brinkley Ink Screenprinting.

What little girl doesn't like to dress up with makeup and rhinestones? Most do and if you're looking for a special treat for your little princess, "Dash of Sparkle" in downtown Athens is the place to take her. Now open at 316 West Market Street, owner April Craig, will dress them up with diva hair, makeup, and accessories.  Call now to make an appointment, or let her custom design a special event or birthday party.  She also provides services for pageants and weddings.  Call her at 256-614-9147 to learn more.