A wedding planner gives newly engaged couples money-saving advice.

I was shaking I was nervous, all I got out was will you marry me. I couldn't get the ring on her finger, my hands were shaking her put it on, Kevina Gray describes the day he proposed to his girlfriend Kenyell Goodson.

When it comes to love stories, Kevin and Kenyell's is more than 10 years in the making.The two have been together since high school, dating long distance while Kevin played basketball overseas.I was excited, it was more like finally, he did it. Finally. It's been some time so, explains Kenyell.

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After she said yes, the two started planning a wedding, with the help of a professional.Like many couples, they wanted to stick a budget. We need all the cash we can save, says Kevin, since theyre trying to save to buy a home.

They sought the help of Lucretia Williams.Your venue takes 40 percent of your budget. you want to book that first. we have amazing venues in Columbus so they book up pretty fast, Williams says.

Williams has been planning events for more than 22 years.She says, we're lucky in Central Ohio because there are a lot of inexpensive venue options.Like the Gazebo at Goodale Park or the beautiful outdoor spaces at Park of Roses. Griggs Boat House in HIliard, its newer, very beautiful, lots of windows overlooks the Scioto Mile River and we have North Bank Park downtown, she says.

Couples should also consider the Metro Parks, state parks and other outdoor venues. Like Lonz Winery on Middle Bass Island, Marbelhead lighthouse on the shores of Lake Erie or Ash Cave at Hocking Hills state park.Some of those only cost a $40 event fee.

But Williams says other costs could add up, especially if you need to rent chairs tables or table clothes.Her advice to save money is to consider not having it on a Saturday. I love Friday Weddings! I love Sunday weddings. For me, people say, well they're not going to come. They love you, they're going to come. It doesn't matter if it's a Tuesday or a Friday, Williams says.

Couples can also have a smaller guest count, which is becoming more popular. A lot of couples want more intimate weddings, you feel the energy and love in the room when it's less people, she says.For this couple, that's not an option, with a big family they plan to have 300 guests.But Williams found them a reasonably priced venue, the Ohio School for the Deaf Alumni Association building.

You don't have to have a grand budget to make a room look fabulous, Williams explains.

And really at the end of the day, it's witnessing true love that people will remember most.I'm a lucky guy, I've realized that from day 1. She stuck by my side through everything, Kevin explains. That's the emotional part of it, we made it through, Kenyell adds.

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Wedding planner gives advice on budgeting for the big day - 10TV

Destination weddings can be difficult to plan but are worth it for the breathtakingly romantic scenery. With a variety of locations, The Excellence Collection will help you plan the perfect destination wedding with two types of resorts for a wedding: Excellence Resorts and Finest Resorts.

Excellence Resorts are for adults-only Caribbean weddings. Any of the five Excellence Resorts will provide an intimate destination wedding with endless beaches and luxury pampering. The options include Excellence Punta Cana, Excellence El Carmen, Excellence Riviera Cancun, Excellence Oyster Bay and Excellence Playa Mujeres.

These properties offer three wedding packages for engaged couples to choose from: the Excellence Wedding Package, the Excellence of Love Wedding Package or the Gold Excellence Wedding Package.

Finest Resorts are for larger, family-oriented weddings located at the brands all-inclusive luxury resorts. Finest Resorts are perfect for couples who an extravagant beach wedding surrounded by loved ones.

These resorts include Finest Playa Mujeres and an upcoming resort in Punta Cana. Finest Resorts offers the same three wedding packages as Excellence Resorts.

All packages offer couples who book their wedding at any of the aforementioned Excellence Collection resorts the choice of exchanging their vows on a romantic beach venue or in a lovely gazebo overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

The beautiful Caribbean scenery and luxurious amenities offered by The Excellence Collection will make it hard for a newly wedded couple to leave, so the company welcomes couples to spend their honeymoons at any of their luxury resorts right after they say I do.

Whats more romantic than a gorgeous destination wedding? Waking up to breakfast in bed, enjoying a couples massage and toasting over a romantic dinner on the beach in that same magical resort where you exchanged vows.

The Excellence Collection resorts include honeymoon suites that come equipped with secluded hammocks and a private jacuzzi to enjoy when not soaking up the sun on a tranquil Caribbean beach or by one of the resorts pools.

Excellence Resorts are perfect for newlyweds who want an intimate getaway in an adults-only resort. Finest Playa Mujeres, however, still provides that same luxury, service and gourmet dining, but with added activities for guests of all ages to enjoy.

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Weddings and Honeymoons the Excellence Way - TravelPulse

Shorewood

Built in 1988, this four-bedroom, four-bath house has 3,872 square feet and features a two-story foyer, vaulted ceilings, built-in bookcases, eat-in kitchen, three-season porch, full finished walkout basement, deck and three-car attached garage. Listed by Dwight Erickson, EXP Realty, 612-270-8614.

Minneapolis

Built in 1958, this three-bedroom, three-bath house located in the Bryn Mawr neighborhood has 1,810 square feet and features two bedrooms on the upper level, formal dining room, hardwood floors, balcony, full walkout basement and deck. Listed by Chris Ames, Re/Max Results, 651-552-2301.

Afton

Built in 1988, three-bedroom, this three-bath house has 2,516 square feet and features a bedroom on each level, fireplace, hardwood floors, full finished walkout basement with a second kitchen, four-season porch, deck, patio, greenhouse, gazebo and two-car detached garage on a 10-acre lot. Listed by Cheryl Schopf, Re/Max Results, 651-324-8910.

Note: Listings active as of Jan. 15.

Photos provided by Dwight Erickson/ Chris Ames/ Nine Nelson, In View Fotos

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Home listings: What $549900 buys in the Twin Cities area - Minneapolis Star Tribune

AUSTIN, Texas Its one of the most distinctive features in Austin: Lady Bird Lake flowing through the center of the city.

But its a lake that wouldn't have happened had it not been for the need for flood control and more electric power for a growing city in the 1960s.

Originally, there was no lake, as the Colorado River flowed through the citys center and technically, it still does.

Throughout Austins history, in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Colorado River was wild and unpredictable, with floods that washed away trees and turned the river banks to mud occurring frequently.

It took two developments to tame the Colorado and eventually create the lake. First, the construction of a series of dams built by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) to control the flow of water in the river. And second, a need for more electric power for a growing city.

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Historians pinpoint the birth of Town Lake as it was known then to 1959. When the City determined that the Seaholm Power Plant couldnt be expanded to meet new demand, an additional power plant was built on Holly Street in East Austin.

To provide cooling water for the plant, the City constructed Longhorn Dam, and it was the water that was held back by that dam that created Town Lake.

The beautification process and the hike and bike trails Austinites know today had to wait until the early 1970s, when then-Austin Mayor Roy Butler led efforts to beautify the banks of the lake. He tapped former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson and a committee of volunteers whose work created the trails, flowering plants and gazebos that adorn the banks of the lake today.

The hike and bike trail now carries the name of Mayor Butler and his wife, Ann. And, in 2011, the Austin City Council voted to change the name of Town Lake to Lady Bird Lake.

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Austin's Lady Bird Lake is the result of flood control and the need for more electric power - KVUE.com

By Rick Geffken

By Rick Geffken

Monmouth County history is more than a collection of dusty old books, tattered letters and fading black and white photographs sitting in boxes or stacked on shelves. A new oral history project by the Monmouth County Historical Association (MCHA) aims to show that the lives of people and events happening to all of us today are worth preserving for future historians.

The project got underway Dec. 23 when its originators, MCHAcolleagues Dana Howell and Joe Zemla, sat down to speak with Harriet Bernsteinand Luisa Paster to record the married couples story of their successful 2008lawsuit against the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association. Bernstein and Pasterhad been denied permission to get married in a civil union ceremony at the Methodistcommunitys boardwalk gazebo. A New Jersey judge ruled against the Methodistorganization.

The idea for the oral history project began six months ago whenHowell, a research librarian atthe MCHA, was intrigued by the concept during one of her archivistcertification classes. We realized there was a deficit in our holdings thatneeded to be addressed, namely the lack of more culturally diverse stories,she said. The MCHA has a treasure trove of historic gems spanning severalcenturies of history. We just thought it was time to broaden the cultural scopeto make our offerings more relevant to a wider audience.

She began brainstorming the idea with Zemla, an associate curatorat the Freehold-based organization. He did a quick survey of the MCHA holdings.Were obviously strong in 18th and 19th centurycollections but lacking in others, he said. The timing of the oral historyproject fit nicely with the MCHAs new strategic plans for renewing its missionto preserve and celebrate the history of Monmouth County for everyone.President Linda Bricker enthusiastically endorses the idea. This project fitsthat objective so well, she said.

We knew we were going to have to be very proactive to accomplishour goal of diversification, Howell explained. Often well get calls aboutdonations that start with, I dont know if this is old enough for you guys,but

As it turned out, Bernsteinand Paster contacted Howell after she had reached out to Garden State Equality,a statewide LGBTQ advocacy and education organization. The recent Decemberinterview with the couple was conducted at the MCHA-owned CovenhovenHouse in Freehold. Although the 1738 Dutch colonial-style home was chosen forits privacy, the setting made for a nice contrast with the 21stcentury Monmouth County zeitgeist Bernstein and Paster represent. Futureinterviews will be conducted at MCHA headquarters or other locations convenientto participants.

The four-channel video recordertechnology used for the interviews is unassuming, which encourages candor fromthe interviewees. The interviewers themselves have an informal conversationalstyle which puts participants at ease right away.

The two MCHA staffers are hopingto do one recorded interview per month. Now that the project has started, Zemlabelieves it will become self-sustaining after a while as people come forwardwith interesting accounts of events in their lives. These will be cataloguedand added to the organizations 70 Court St. library in Freehold, andeventually posted on the MCHAs website.

The long-range plan for the MCHAoral history project is to include a wide variety of groups, interviewed inphases, such as the long-established African American community, the morerecently arrived Hispanic community, senior citizens and the Jewish community,especially for stories their grandparents have passed down from World War II.Others on the wish list are military veterans and survivors and families ofvictims of the 9/11 terrorist attack of the Twin Towers who will be visitingNew York for the 20th anniversary next year.

Howell said they are open toideas. Well continue to record stories from all the previous groups as wemove through each phase. After that, well continue the program to includepretty much anyone who has an interesting story to tell.

The MCHA will accept oral histories collected by other people to add to its collection as well. Anyone interested in contributing to the oral history project can use the special email address: digitalarchives@monmouthhistory.org. Howell and Zemla can also be reached via the MCHA website monmouthhistory.org or at 732-462-1466.

This article originally appeared in the Jan. 9, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.

Link:
Monmouth County Historical Association Kicks Off Oral History Project - The Two River Times

Monday the nation and the First Coast celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Heres a look at some of the area events that are being held in honor of the civil rights leader on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020.

Jacksonville

The Annual MLK Holiday Grand Parade will be held in Downtown Jacksonville beginning at 10 a.m.

The parade will wind through the streets, beginning at Daily's Place Amphitheater on Bay Street and will conclude at Johnson Street near the Prime Osborn Convention Center.

Live entertainment and food will be set up along the parade route.

More information

A day of service calledPaint the Town on MLK Dayis being held in Northwest Jacksonville. The Northwest Jacksonville Community Development Corporation and National Health Corps Florida AmeriCorps are inviting the community to join them from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Organizers and residents will paint 10 homes in the Riverview neighborhood.

More information

The Timucuan Parks Foundation is holding a MLK Day of Service Volunteer Project at Hanna Park. The nonprofit organization and the city of Jacksonville will be leading projects, including invasive plant removal, trail maintenance and shoreline cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon at Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park at 500 Wonderwood Dr.

Volunteers should identify themselves as volunteers to park staff at the front gate and meet by 9 a.m. at the lakefront parking lot. Participants should wear closed-toed shoes and clothes they dont mind getting dirty.

The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is offering free art engagement activities and special commemorations from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with free admission. Highlights will include art-making activities, live music, demonstrations by artists, and complimentary trolley transportation between the Cummer Museum and the Ritz Theatre and Museum. Ecumenical prayers for peace, coordinated with OneJax, will be held at 3 p.m. at both locations.

Fernandina Beach

The Martin Luther King Jr. Parade begins at Peck Center, 516 S. 10th St. at noon. It will move up Ash, South Second and Centre streets.

More information

St. Augustine

The 35th Annual Commemorative Breakfast Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be held at the Mark W. Lance Armory, 190 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine. The guest speaker will be Fedrick C. Ingram, president of the Florida Education Association.

More information

A Remembrance March starting at AME Church at 11:30 am, 86 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. in Lincolnville to the Plaza de la Constitucion, 170 St. George St., in the citys center square, will also be held. Speakers will present in the gazebo from noon until 2 p.m.

More information

Editors Note: If your group has an MLK event on Monday that you would like listed in this story, kindly email the information to bbortzfield@wjct.org by 2 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 17.

Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org, 904-358-6349 or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.

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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Events Across The First Coast - WJCT NEWS

Trail of the Honey Bees Walking Tour

Posted on 14 January 2020 by JLusk

There is something buzzing in Pompano Beach. On Saturday, Jan. 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Pompano Beach Cultural Arts Center, at 50 W. Atlantic Blvd., there will be the first-ever walking tour of the Trail of the Honey Bees.

The trail is part of the citys Mosaic Team program which began in 2016. The program consists of three phases. Trail of the Honey Bees is part of the first phase. The city commissioned lead artist Sonata Kazimieraitiene to work with five approved apprentices to create 35 mosaics displayed throughout the Innovative District connecting multiple cultural facilities through artwork and education. The original source of the honey bee image can be seen in the metal railings of the Ali Cultural Arts roof parapet. The Trail of the Honey Bees encourages a spirit of unity to connect both sides of Dixie Highway. The focal point of the trail is on the honey bee and the vegetation it helps pollinate. Pompano Beach was built by a rich agricultural community. Without the help of the honey bee and continued education on the importance of the bee, the agricultural community as a whole is at stake. Those participating in the walking trail will meet at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center at 10 a.m. From there, the participants will be transported to the starting point of the trail, 731 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd. Jr., and begin their tour, which features pop up activities and events leading back to the Pompano Cultural Center for a final extravaganza! The entire event will take approximately four hours. Refreshments will be provided. Other projects associated with phase one of the Mosaic Team include Music Leads the Way, which consists of four music themed mosaic murals located at the Pompano Beach Amphitheater: Community, a 16 x 8 ft. mosaic mural located at the Charlotte Burrie Community Center, which is set to be open soon, and Wow, a 10 ft. diameter floor mosaic located at the gazebo on the northeast corner of West Palm Aire Drive and Oaks Drive. For more information on the Trail of the Honey Bees or the citys Public Art Program, call 954-545-7800, ext. 3813 or e-mail laura.atria@copbfl.com.

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Trail of the Honey Bees Walking Tour - Observer Newspaper Online

Published 6:00pm EST, Tuesday, December 17, 2019

The Wilton Christmas Carolers will sing on the town green at 4:15 p.m., on Dec. 18.

The Wilton Christmas Carolers will sing on the town green at 4:15 p.m., on Dec. 18.

Photo: Contributed Photo / Wilton Christmas Carolers

The Wilton Christmas Carolers will sing on the town green at 4:15 p.m., on Dec. 18.

The Wilton Christmas Carolers will sing on the town green at 4:15 p.m., on Dec. 18.

Wilton carolers will sing at gazebo

The Wilton Christmas Carolers will have their third annual Christmas caroling event on Wednesday, Dec. 18, at 4:15 p.m., at the Wilton Center gazebo. The community is welcome to join in.

We experienced a wonderful feeling of the spirit of this magical holiday season while caroling the last two years, with passersby of all persuasions joining in ... no singing talent necessary! said organizer Eleanor Sasso.

The group will provide flashlights and sheet music for all.

Any questions on the event: please text Eleanor at 203-216-6814.

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Wilton carolers will sing at gazebo - The Wilton Bulletin

PASO ROBLES Paso Robles Recreation Services and the Paso Robles Recreation Enhances Community Foundation is currently accepting applications for interested performers for the 2020 Summer Concerts in the Park series.

This highly popular family-friendly concert series attracted over 25,000 attendees in the summer of 2019 and has been an annual tradition throughout the area since 2001.

All shows are free and feature a wide variety of local and regional musical entertainment in the City Park gazebo.

We were thrilled with the outstanding attendance and community support for our Summer Concerts in the Park Series last summer, commented Lynda Plescia, Recreation Services Manager for the City of Paso Robles. Our varied line-up of talented musicians delivered fabulous shows and were looking forward to assembling another crowd-pleasing schedule of performances for the 2020 season.

Concerts will take place on Thursdays from 6-8 p.m., June 4 through Aug. 13.

Musicians interested in consideration for the 2020 season must submit a press kit by Friday, Jan. 17, containing the following materials:

A completed Band Interest Form available at prcity.com/concertsinthepark

One to two relevant videos of previous performances in the last three years

CD demo or downloadable songs

Website or Facebook page information or link

Setlist to cover a two-hour set

Two references

Interested performers must email an electronic press kit (EPK) by the Jan. 17 deadline to Recreation Services Administrative Assistant Wyatt Lund at wlund@prcity.com or submit a physical press kit to Concerts in the Park, Attention: Wyatt Lund, 600 Nickerson Dr., Paso Robles, CA 93446.

For more information, contact Lund at 805-237-3990 or the email address above.

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Paso Robles Concerts in the Park Seeking Talent for 2020 - Paso Robles Press

With Christmas right around the corner, the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Oaklawn Grange was held Dec. 12.

The Christmas tree and Gazebo were lit by Mayor Allan Fung and his wife, Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung. The event included visits with Santa Claus, music and horse-drawn hayrides provided by New Deal Farm. Visitors enjoyed hot cocoa, cookies other treats.

Horses Eddie and Lenny, driven by New Deal Farm co-owner Julie Kliever, brought riders throughout the neighborhood.

Santa arrived in a Cranston fire truck and then took a hayride to the Grange to meet with local youngsters. A crowd of approximately 150 people turned out, and many brought canned goods to benefit local food pantries.

The Oaklawn Grange was organized in 1909 by 38 people who met at the Old Meeting House, at the location of what is now the Oaklawn Baptist Church. At that time, Oaklawn was a farming community, and the church donated the Meeting House as a place of fellowship.

Original post:
Christmas at the Grange - Cranston Herald