DeKalb County Has Two Great Arts Councils by John Dersham

Considering we are a relatively small county from a population point of view we are blessed with an inordinate amount of interest in the arts. We have two large arts councils in our county in the Big Will Arts Council and the Mentone Area Arts Council.

The Big Wills Arts Council (BWAC) is designated by the Alabama State Council on the Arts (ASCA) as a Local Arts Council (LAC) and has operated under the authority of the City of Fort Payne since the early 1990s. Since that time, the BWAC, under the directorship of Russell Gulley, has been noted as an exemplary rural arts program by the Southern Arts Federation (SAF), the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and the ASCA.

The mission of this 501 (C3) non-profit organization is:
To aid, encourage, advise, and to correlate all activities dedicated to the promotion of cultural arts in this area, to include, but not be limited to, increasing our youth's appreciation of the arts through education, preserving this area's contribution to the arts and humanities, and encouraging an on-going participation therein.

Today the organization’s primary focus is arts in education programming. Director Russell Gulley is one of the few teaching artists in Alabama that has been studying "Integrated Arts Curriculum" as sponsored by the Alabama Institute for Arts in Education (AIEA) and instructed by Karen Erickson, noted master teaching artist with the Kennedy Center in Washington. Russell is on the ASCA's Roster of Arts in Education Artists, has for two years (2007 and 2009) participated in the ASCA’s Alabama Rural Schools Touring Program presenting his “Intro: Folk Music, Blues and Tradition” residency and concert program, and is currently serving the Fort Payne City Schools as an Artist in Residence in Music in his 3rd year.

Russell has been involved in local community arts for over 2 decades and has served the state on grant review panels, as President of the Board of Directors for the Alabama Folk life Association (AFA), is a graduate of the AFA's "Alabama Community Scholars Institute" sponsored by the ASCA and the NEA, and is dedicated to preserving the state's cultural heritage. (Information and text provided by Russell Gulley.)

The Mentone Area Arts Council was established by a group of farsighted individuals in 2004 and was incorporated in 2006. It received its designation as a private, non-profit organization in 2007. Growing steadily from humble beginnings, the Council now has well over 100 members, from as far west as Fort Worth , Texas, as far north as Bethesda, Maryland, and as far south as Tampa, Florida.

The Arts Council plays a significant role to enrich the quality of life for people in Mentone and neighboring communities by raising funds for the arts, sponsoring events, providing educational opportunities, and strengthening cultural resources for the benefit of all businesses and citizens in the Mentone area. Our primary focus is on three areas, namely, our artists, the Lookout Mountain community, and providing educational opportunities for children in our local schools and adults as well.

Our artists are an overlooked, valuable part of the cultural makeup of the Mentone Area. In the 1920’s, people from all over the country were attracted by the clean air and mineral springs in the Mentone Area for health enrichment, rest and relaxation. For the same reason, artists settled in the area where mountain environs were conducive to creativity and innovation. Their skills have been passed down for generations and today, we have located over 250 fine artists in the area who are contributing to the cultural fabric of the community and its economy on a daily basis. (Information and Text provided by Neal Whitt.)

This Christmas buy local and buy some of your gifts from our very talented artisans in DeKalb County.

Lookout Mountain Photography Club

Mentone Area Arts Council to Form Lookout Mountain Photography Club
With John Alexander Dersham
A new club for photography buffs is forming. The Lookout Mountain Photograpy Club is to be an informal group, sponsored by the Mentone Area Arts Council, with the specific purpose of bringing together people who have an interest in photography and to promote fellowship, fun, education and knowledge of photography. It is for all skill levels and the goal of the club is to encourage members to develop their photographic skills and to provide a venue for members to learn, share and display their photography, in their endeavor to become better photographers. To this end, the club will conduct programs, competitions, seminars, workshops and field trips. The club will also be a good neighbor to the community and wherever possible, engage photography in the community.

You Are Invited To Attend The Organizational Meeting
of the Lookout Mountain Photography Club

The organizational meeting of the Lookout Mountain Photography Club will be led by John Alexander Dersham. John was a career executive with Kodak prior to becoming the Executive Director of the DeKalb County Tourist Association. His photographs are prominently displayed throughout the corporate offices of Kodak around the country. His works are also displayed in a number of galleries in North Alabama. He recently participated in the highly acclaimed, Alabama Waterways, A Photographic Celebration, photography exhibit in Mentone.

When: 6:30 PM, Friday, December 11, 2009

Where: The Mentone Inn
Highway 117
Mentone, Alabama

For additional information, contact John Dersham at dcta@tourdekalb.com

Collinsville Historic Turkey Trot was a Hit!

November 14th was the Annual Collinsville Historic Turkey Trot. The Cherokee Ani-Yun-Wiya Nation shared a piece of their heritage beautifully in song, dance and drumming. The weather was perfect for their historic “turkey toss” from the roof of the newly restored library. The festival was very well attended by those listening to local musicians, tasting great southern food, enjoying the tractor show and participating in such games as the “greased pig chase” and “money in the hay”, great for all ages! They also introduced a new event this year called “Poker Run”.

Don’t Say there is Nothing to do in DeKalb County by John Dersham

Sometimes I hear people say there is nothing to do in our area. They must have blinders on. Every week 52 weeks a year there is more than any one person could attend. If you doubt this please view the DeKalb County Tourist Association website www.tourdekalb.com, and click on our calendar of events. You will be amazed at the fun things we have to do.
This last weekend was Canyon Fest at Little River Canyon National Preserve and The Battle of Missionary Ridge at Sequoyah Caverns and Ellis Homestead, just to name two. It was the perfect fall weekend, with some fall color still abounding and both days were clear, sunny and warm. The two events I am talking about were fantastic and both were extremely well attended. Roy Jones of Sequoyah Caverns said 1,400 people were present for their two day event re-enacting the Civil War Battle of Missionary Ridge. The property at Sequoyah Caverns and Ellis Homestead is tucked at the foot of Sand Mountain and Little Wills Ridge. It is a large, extremely scenic acreage and a perfect location for this event. Civil War re-enactments are much more than the battle itself. It is a view of life of that era. Present at the re-enactment are artists and craftsmen making Civil War era goods. They are all dressed in the period. There is period music, food, a tin type photographer and a Ball on Saturday night. The Battle of Missionary Ridge is held each November and is a must see if you have not been yet. If you have not visited Sequoyah Caverns and Ellis Homestead, or have not visited lately it is well worth going. The spectacular property and beautiful cave with its famous reflecting pools and formations makes for a great outing. For more information visit www.sequoyahcaverns.com or call 256-635-0024.
On Saturday Canyon Fest was held at JSU’s Canyon Center at Little River Canyon National Preserve. There were more than 1,000 people at this beautiful day full of arts, crafts, music, food, games, rock climbing, a dog agility demonstration and much more. We are very blessed in DeKalb County to have a lot to see and do and even more so when you figure in the scenic aspects of our events and the beautiful drive to get there.

We have had an outstanding fall tourist season here. There have been a lot of people in town since middle October. People from all over the country have stopping in our information center. We find the majority of our visitors this time of year are from points south that come here because of our outstanding fall color in comparison to where they live.

10 Ways to Sing in the Rain on Lookout Mountain in Alabama by Sarah Wilcox from Moutain Laurel Inn

1. Relax while listening to the wonderful sound of the rain through either an open window as you nap or sleep for the night or in a rocker on a porch found at a store, restaurant, cabin or bed and breakfast.
2. Investigate the many historic buildings and stories on Lookout Mountain starting in Mentone with St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church, Mentone Springs Hotel, Hitching Post and the White Elephant galleries. Historic buildings abound in Fort Payne with Sallie Howard’s Memorial Chapel, the Depot Museum, the Old Mill Antiques and DeKalb Theater.
3. Shop until you drop. Go bargain hunting at Dixie Salvage in Fort Payne, Akins Furniture in Dogtown or Upscale Resale in Valley Head. Discover unique shops in Mentone’s Log cabin village, downtown Fort Payne or atop Sand Mountain. Experience artists working in their own studios and galleries such as Orbix Hot Glass in Lickskillet and Miracle Pottery in Valley Head.
4. Explore Sequoyah Caverns where the weather forecast is always 60 degrees, no rain and cool (oh so cool reflection pools and passageways). Learn the history of Ellis Homestead and feed the animals.
5. Release the artist from within. Perfect opportunity for unique photography, for painting on the porch, for writing poetry or for playing a song on the instrument of your choice at any of the variety of lodging in the area.
6. View all the waterfalls in the area that will love the rain: High falls in Geraldine, Desoto Falls in Mentone, and Little River falls in Fort Payne to name a few.
7. Treasures abound. Perfect opportunity to find one of the 258 geocaches in the area and not be discovered in your journeys. See www.geocaching.com to get going. If you are clever, bury your own cache to add to the website.
8. Excite your taste buds. Go on a scavenger hunt to discover which restaurant in the area has the best appetizer and the most decadent dessert. It will be a hard choice as the area has great “hole in the wall” type restaurants with grandma’s buttermilk pie to fine dining with crab cakes and homemade sauce.
9. Refresh and renew. What a great excuse for finding the time to truly relax and enjoy a good book, watch a movie or have a great conversation. Many businesses in the area such as a restaurant, hotel, cabin or bed and breakfast provide the perfect atmosphere for physical, mental and emotional refreshment.
10. Start singing with good rain gear and the right spirit to enjoy all the great hikes and views in the area such as DeKalb County Public Lake, Little River Canyon and DeSoto State Park. Unless you are the wicked witch of the west, you won’t melt.


DeKalb County on Lookout Mountain in Alabama is open and inspiring during sun, rain, sleet or snow so come enjoy today. For more details see www.discoverlookoutmountain.com or call 1-888-805-4740

Look What is Happening on Lookout Mountain Alabama

Looking for something to do this weekend? Visit Lookout Mountain Alabama and see the beautiful fall foliage as well as the many activities to keep you busy!

Check out all of these Holiday Open Houses going on November 7th & 8th:
Eddie's Florist is host to more than 75 beautifully decorated Christmas trees, each with a different theme. Ornaments ranging from whimsical, cartoons to retro, Victorian to collegiate - there is truly something for everyone in the tastefully decorated Christmas Wonderland! Open Saturday from 8am to 5pm and Sunday from 1pm to 4pm. Located on Sand Mountain at 9112 AL Hwy 40 in Henagar. 256-657-3841



Myrtle Jane's Antiques is home to unique furniture, gifts, and a selection of architectural items to beautifully decorate your home or cabin. Come by and visit Saturday from 9am to 5pm and Sunday from 12pm to 4pm. 256-845-4830

The Wishing Well has a beautiful assortment of home decor, including tableware sets, fine china, wall art, and of course Holiday decorations. They also carry children & women's clothing and accessories. Stop by & visit on Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday from 1pm to 5pm. 256-845-7355



Little River Canyon is hosting Canyon Fest this Saturday, November 8th from 10 am to 3pm. Come enjoy live music, nature & arts activities, arts demonstrations & sales, great food, children's activities & fun at this festival designed to celebrate our natural world and to benefit the children of our community. For more information call 256-782-5697.

Take a scenic moped tour on Lookout Mountain and let your guide lead you on a breathtaking ride that will make several stops such as scenic overlooks, tourist shops, antique stores, nature walks, a cafe for lunch, water falls, and art galleries. Gas is included. Saturday, November 8th from 10am to 4pm. For more information call 256-997-9577.



The Battle of Missionary Ridge will be taking place at Sequoyah Caverns & Ellis Homestead this weekend, November 7th & 8th. This event features A Sutler’s Village, live re-enactments with artillery and Civil War cannons, Civil War-era food, and much more. 800-843-5098



Try your hand in a Paperweight Class at Orbix Hot Glass. Feel the heat, gather from the furnace, sculpt the glass into your own design. It is ultimately about the experience, some experimentation and a couple nice paperweights to take home or to the office to show your friends. Class size at the largest will be five students so everyone has adequate time at the bench working. There will be material provided before the class for you to review and become familiar with concerning safety and basic glassblowing vocabulary. November 7th from 5pm to 9pm. 256-523-3188




Take a guided Archaeology Tour of Cherokee and DeKalb Counties on Saturday, November 7th. Join JSU archaeologist Dr. Harry Holstein for a guided tour of sites throughout Cherokee and DeKalb counties. Participants will visit the 19th century Cornwall Iron Furnace, a Spanish contact site at Coosa village, a rock shelter in use as early as 3000 B.C., and much more. Bring your own food and drinks. Pre-registration is required. November 7th from 9am to 3pm. (Ages 14 and over). For more information call 256-782-5697.

Tourism Fiscal Year Results by John Dersham

Despite tough economic times tourism in DeKalb County maintained results well above national averages. The key to our success in tough times is our location and low cost to visit. We are blessed with a great amount of natural beauty and the venues to support tourism. We have 11 million people within a 200 mile radius of us and a good interstate system to get people here. We have become a regional favorite for tourists seeking a relaxing scenic get-a-way where parks, attractions, lodging, restaurants and shopping is all readily available at costs well under the national average. Our top states for DeKalb County tourism are Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Georgia. We also get many visitors from Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana whom love our mountains and lakes and we are not too far for two or three day vacation. This year there has been a strong nationwide trend toward shorter travel distances and a lower expenditure per person. We are ideally suited for these trends. Lodgings income reports for the year show tourists are continuing to visit our area in substantial numbers. The area adversely affected is a loss in lodging year to date due to fewer corporate travelers on the road. This is fueled by a high un-employment rate and a trend toward companies cutting travel budgets and using electronic communications in place of face to face visitation.
This spring when the calendar year results are released we think tourist’s revenues for the state will be down especially in the areas of retail and restaurant spending. Our overall income from tourism should come in well above the national average in DeKalb County and in the state. Alabama is an upcoming state in the area of tourism. Unlike Florida, New York, Vegas etc, we are still developing our markets and should have solid long term growth for years to come in DeKalb County and in our entire state.
I am including a press release from the state concerning Alabama’s fiscal year results.
Alabama’s hospitality industry fares much better than rest of nation
Alabama's hospitality industry fared much better than the national average during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, the Alabama Department of Revenue says. Because of the recession, spending in the state dipped approximately 7 percent while the national average was down 14 percent. Tourism Director Lee Sentell said the department reduced spending by 12 percent in anticipation of the national slowdown in travel. "The Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area had a good summer and we anticipate travel to pick up in 2010," he said.