Newspaper Page Text
Lots of family fun
in Chattanooga
C HATTANOOGA
is a great fam
ily destination that
offers decades old favorites such
as Ruby Falls and Rock City
with newer attractions, includ
ing the Tennessee Aquarium.
Ruby Falls
has beautiful
caverns and
breath-taking
underground
waterfall;
Rock City
offers gor
geous gardens
located along
winding paths
with amazing
views; and the
Tennessee Aquarium has hands-on
experiences with animals. A trip to
Chattanooga isn't complete with
out stops at these three attractions.
Throw in a ride on the Tennessee
Valley Railroad and a dinner buf
fet on the Southern Belle and
your vacation is complete.
Chattanooga also has deli
cious dining options and a variety
of accommodation options that
all make for a perfect fam
ily vacation destination. The
location just three hours from
North Georgia is another reason
it's a great vacation choice.
Ruby Falls has been a vaca
tion destination for more than 75
years and it has been voted one
of the top seven natural attrac
tions in the United States. It is
the deepest commercial cavern in
the United States and is located
1,000 feet underground deep
inside Lookout Mountain.
Visitors begin their journey by
boarding an elevator and heading
down to the caverns. An informa
tive and entertaining guide leads
you through the caverns and to the
spectacular 145-foot waterfall.
As you walk through the cav
ern, it's amazing to see the small
crevices and imagine how the
caverns were first discovered.
It’s also fun to look at the forma
tions and figure out what they
resemble. You might spot steak
and eggs or an elephant’s ears as
you go deep into the caverns.
An evening lantern tour is
offered, as our special events dur
ing the holidays. This offers a
different experience in the caverns.
Ruby Falls is located at 1720
South Scenic Highway. For more
information, check out www.ruby-
falls.com or call 800-755-7105.
Rock City has been a landmark
vacation destination for decades
thanks to a unique marketing
campaign. The huge red bams
and birdhouses with “See Rock
City” are located across the coun
try and have led many people to
the Chattanooga garden spot.
A walk through the garden
lightens the heart and stimulates
the mind. As the owner says,
“Our vision is to create memo
ries worth repeating.” It has been
successful as the enchanted trail
has been delighting adults and
children alike since 1932.
Highlights include the overlook
where you can “See Seven States”
and the view from the swinging
bridge where you get a great look
at the massive rock formations,
gardens and countryside. Special
events are held during the sum
mer, including a bird show.
For more information,
go to www.seerockcity.
com or call 800-854-0675
While at Lookout Mountain to
visit Ruby Falls and Rock City,
take time for a ride on the Incline
Railway. You can take a ride on
a trolley style rail car for a scenic
view of Lookout Mountain. The
world’s steepest passenger railway,
it gives you a panoramic view
from the top of the mountain.
For more information, check
out www.RidetheIncline.
com or call 423-821-4224
The Tennessee Aquarium fol
lows a drop of water from an
Appalachian cave forest down the
Tennessee River to the Gulf of
Mexico. Exhibits are located in
two buildings, so be sure to check
them both out. It takes approxi
mately two and a half hours to
go through both buildings. Go
early to avoid the long lines.
My favorite stop at the
aquarium had to be the
penguin exhibit. During
continued on page 2C
Inside: GED graduates to be honored — page 3C
July 22,
2009
0 The Jackson Herald
J* nemos
Jana Adams Mitcham,
Features Editor 706-367-8760
jana@mainstreetnews.com
Section C
Curtain call
AT DRESS REHEARSAL
The cast of “Steel Magnolias,” which opens Friday evening, includes (L-R) Melissia Bruce as Ouiser Boudreaux; Dee Crowe as
Clairee Belcher; Ashley Shumake as Annelle Dupuy-Desoto; Jani Taylor as M’Lynn Eatenton; Lindsay Starnes as Shelby Eatenton-
Latcherie; and Lynn Mulvey as Truvy Jones. Ray Ferrante is the artistic director for the Jefferson Community Theatre’s first show.
‘Steel Magnolias’ is first production
for Jefferson Community Theatre
Shows slated for July 24-26, July 31-Aug. 2
Melissia Bruce, Lindsay
Starnes and Ashley Shumake
are shown in a “Streel
Magnolias” scene.
Actor bios
Melissia Bruce fives in Jefferson.
She has a son, Jonathan, and a daugh
ter, Jennifer. She got into theatre to
support her daughter on the board
of directors. This is her first time in
theatre and the first time on stage. She
said she is proud to be a part of the
Jefferson Community Theatre’s first
production.
Dee Crowe is a newcomer to
Jefferson, having lived there only three
years. She has three children and six
grandchildren. She enjoys gardening
in her spare time, has her multi-engine
flying license and is a new volunteer
for Main Street Jefferson. Dee has
been with PAI Industries in Suwanee
for 25 years. This is her first experi
ence with community theatre and she
said she loves it.
Lynn Mulvey has worked with the
Theatre of Gwinnett, New London
and, prior to JCT, Winder Barrow
Community Theatre. She has been
stage manager, a member of the back-
stage crew, props manager and direc-
continued on page 2C
T HE JEFFERSON Community
Theatre's production of “Steel
Magnolias” will open at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, July 24, at the Jefferson High School
performing arts center.
Cast members include: Melissia Bruce as
Ouiser Boudreaux; Lindsay Starnes as Shelby
Eatenton-Latcherie; Ashley Shumake as
Annelle Dupuy-Desoto; Jani Taylor as M'Lynn
Eatenton; Dee Crowe as Clairee Belcher; and
Lynn Mulvey as Truvy Jones.
Shows are planned for 7:30 p.m. July 24
and 25; 2:30 p.m. July 26; 7:30 p.m. July 31
and Aug. 1; and 2:30 p.m. Aug. 2. All perfor
mances will be held at the JHS theatre.
Tickets are available at $10 for adults and $7
for students, with senior citizen, group, multi
show and dinner passes available. For more
information on tickets, call 706-367-5714.
Ray Ferrante is the artistic director for the
community theatre’s first year, with “Steel
Magnolias” as the first production. A nine-
member board oversees the community the
atre.
Dee Crowe as Clairee Belcher and Lindsay Starnes
as Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie are shown at dress
rehearsal Sunday. ,
Photos by Jessica Brown
Lynn Mulvey as Truvy Jones, Jani Taylor as M’Lynn Eatenton, Ashley Shumake as Annelle
Dupuy-Desoto and Dee Crowe as Clairee Belcher are shown in dress rehearsal for “Steel
Magnolias,” which will show this weekend and the next at Jefferson High School.
About the play
“STEEL MAGNOLIAS,” by Robert
Harling, is a 1987 off-Broadway play, made
into a movie in 1989. Based on the author’s
experience with the death of his sister, “Steel
Magnolias” is a comedy-drama about the
bond among a group of southern women in
northwest Louisiana.
The action centers around Truvy's beauty
parlor, with story lines unfolding for some
women who regularly gather there. All of the
action of the play takes place solely on the
one set - Truvy’s beauty salon (which is part
of her house). There are only six characters
(all female) who appear on stage.
The play begins on the morning of Shelby’s
wedding to Jackson and the main story line
covers events over the next three years,
including Shelby's complications from dia
betes and her relationship with her mother,
M’Lynn.
Clairee and Ouiser’s friendship is another
storyline, as is Annelle’s transformation from
Melissia Bruce, Lindsay Starnes and Lynn Mulvey are
shown at dress rehearsal for “Streel Magnolias.”
shy newcomer in town, to party girl to religious fundamental
ist, and Truvy's relationships with her husband and son.
The friendship of all six women is an underlying theme for
the play.