Corcoran Seasonal Tree

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TOPIC LOCAL EVENTS CALENDAR C2 | WEDDINGS C3 Karen Gamble, managing editor | E-mail: [email protected] | Tel: 601.636.4545 ext 137 THE VICKSBURG POST SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2012 • SECTION C THIS & THAT FROM STAFF REPORTS Post seeks stories about Christmas The Vicksburg Post is seeking Christmas stories from its readers. Particpants can email a brief summary of their story along with contact information to newsre- leases@vicksburgpost. com or mail informa- tion to P.O. Box 821668, Vicksburg, MS 39182. Sto- ries might appear in the newspaper. Fondren chosen for special training Linda Fondren, owner of Shape Up Sisters in Vicks- burg, has been selected by the Annenberg Foun- dation’s Board of Direc- tors to participate in the Annenberg Alchemy’s specialized course for CNN Heroes. This course allows for executive development and subsidized grant-writ- ing training for nonprofit organizations. The Annenberg Founda- tion is a family group that provides funding and sup- port to nonprofit organiza- tions in the United States and globally. Fondren was named a CNN Hero in 2010 for her fight against obesity in Mississippi. Tree lighting set at River Region River Region Medical Center has scheduled its annual tree-lighting cere- mony at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the hospital atrium. The event is free but donations of non-perish- able food to the Store- house Community Pantry are encouraged. The tree lighting will include com- plimentary pictures with Santa, refreshments and music provided by the Warren Central Interme- diate School Honor Choir. For more information, call 601-883-5187 or visit www. RiverRegion.com. ‘Death in the Delta’ book released “Death in the Delta: Uncovering a Missis- sippi Family Secret,” a book by Anguilla native Molly Walling, has been released by the University Press of Mississippi. Wall- ing lives in Asheville, N.C., and is university writing instructor. The book is a story of Walling’s search for the truth behind a 60-year-old family secret in the her hometown. For more information, email ckinberling@missis- sippi.edu. Songwriters sought for Starkville event The third annual Cotton District Arts Festival Songwriter’s Competition in Starkville is accepting entries through Jan. 15. All genres of music will be accepted and the com- petition is open to all ages. Songs will be judged on originality, melody, com- position, structure, and lyrics. First-, second- and third-place prizes will be awarded $250, $100 and $75 March 1. Winners also will be given the opportunity to perform their song at the festival. For more informa- tion, email cdafestival@ gmail.com. AT THE MOVIES ‘Hobbit’ fans rejoice at New Zealand premiere By The Associated Press WELLINGTON, New Zea- land — Wearing elf ears and wizard hats, sitting atop their dad’s shoulders or peer- ing from balconies, tens of thousands of New Zealand- ers watched their favorite “Hobbit” actors walk the red carpet this week at the film trilogy’s hometown premiere. An Air New Zealand plane freshly painted with “Hobbit” characters flew low over Wellington’s Embassy Theatre, eliciting roars of approval from the crowd. Sam Rashidmardani, 12, said he came to see Gollum actor Andy Serkis walk the red carpet — and he wasn’t disappointed. “It was amazing,” Rashid- mardani said of the evening, adding his Gollum impres- sion: “My precious.” British actor Martin Free- man, who brings come- dic timing to the lead role of Bilbo Baggins, said he thought director Peter Jack- son had done a fantastic job on “The Hobbit: An Unex- pected Journey.” “He’s done it again,” Free- man said in an interview on the red carpet. “If it’s possi- ble, it’s probably even better than ‘The Lord of the Rings.’ I think he’s surpassed it.” While it is unusual for a city so far from Hollywood to host the premiere of a hoped-for blockbuster, Jack- son’s filming of his lauded ‘LOTR’ trilogy and now “The Hobbit” in New Zealand has helped create a film indus- try here. The film will open in theaters around the world next month. One of the talking points of the film is the choice by Jackson to shoot it using 48 frames per second instead of the traditional 24 in hopes of improving the picture quality. Some say the images come out too clear and look so realistic that they take away from the magic of the film medium. Jackson likens it to advancing from vinyl records to CDs. “I really think 48 frames is pretty terrific and I’m look- ing forward to seeing the reaction,” Jackson said on the red carpet. “It’s been talked about for so long, but finally the film is being released and people can decide for themselves.” Jackson said it was strange working on the project so intimately for two years and then having it suddenly taken away as the world got to see the movie. “It spins your head a little bit,” he said. Aidan Turner, who plays the dwarf Kili in the movie, said his character is reckless and thinks he’s charming. “I don’t get to play real people it seems, I only get to play supernatural ones,” he said. “So playing a dwarf didn’t seem that weird, actually. Perhaps the most well- known celebrities to walk the THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Cast member Martin Freeman, left, who plays Bilbo Baggins in “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” embraces director Peter Jackson at the movie’s premiere. See Hobbit, Page C2. By Matt Stuart [email protected] The tree inside Toot’s Gro- cery looks like a Christmas tree now, but it is only one of its many incarnations. Whether it’s Mardi Gras, foot- ball season or Christmas, the tree changes month-to-month, thanks to lunch patron Maureen Corcoran who coaxed owner Pat Dennis about a decade ago to keep the tree up all year. “She said, ‘If you’ll leave it up, I’ll decorate it once a month for different things that are going on,’” Dennis said. Since then, Cor- coran, an associate technical director at the Engineer Research and Develop- ment Center, has visited monthly putting unique, folksy ornaments on it to accom- pany the most current holiday or time of year. “She supplies all the deco- rations and just comes in every few weeks and takes care of it,” Dennis said. “They do things for PAWS (animal rescue), things for the troops, Mardi Gras, Thanks- giving, football, all the schools — stuff like that. “People love it,” he continued. “They come in in the summer and Toot’s Christmas tree evolves into year-round tradition See Toot’s, Page C2. Maureen Corcoran, right, and Rae Gore decorate the Toot’s Christ- mas tree. ELI BAYLIS•THE VICKSBURG POST FILE•THE VICKSBURG POST Maureen Corcoran, left, and Julie Kelley, stand next to the tree decorated for Memorial Day.

Transcript of Corcoran Seasonal Tree

Page 1: Corcoran Seasonal Tree

TOPICLOCAL EVENTS CALENDAR C2 | WEDDINGS C3

Karen Gamble, managing editor | E-mail: [email protected] | Tel: 601.636.4545 ext 137

THE VICKSBURG POST

S U N D A Y, D E C E M B E R 2, 2012 • S E C T I O N C

THIS & THATFROM STAFF REPORTS

Post seeks storiesabout Christmas

The Vicksburg Post is seeking Christmas stories from its readers.

Particpants can email a brief summary of their story along with contact information to [email protected] or mail informa-tion to P.O. Box 821668, Vicksburg, MS 39182. Sto-ries might appear in the newspaper.

Fondren chosenfor special training

Linda Fondren, owner of Shape Up Sisters in Vicks-burg, has been selected by the Annenberg Foun-dation’s Board of Direc-tors to participate in the Annenberg Alchemy’s specialized course for CNN Heroes.

This course allows for executive development and subsidized grant-writ-ing training for nonprofi t organizations.

The Annenberg Founda-tion is a family group that provides funding and sup-port to nonprofi t organiza-tions in the United States and globally.

Fondren was named a CNN Hero in 2010 for her fi ght against obesity in Mississippi.

Tree lightingset at River Region

River Region Medical Center has scheduled its annual tree-lighting cere-mony at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the hospital atrium.

The event is free but donations of non-perish-able food to the Store-house Community Pantry are encouraged. The tree lighting will include com-plimentary pictures with Santa, refreshments and music provided by the Warren Central Interme-diate School Honor Choir. For more information, call 601-883-5187 or visit www.RiverRegion.com.

‘Death in the Delta’book released

“Death in the Delta: Uncovering a Missis-sippi Family Secret,” a book by Anguilla native Molly Walling, has been released by the University Press of Mississippi. Wall-ing lives in Asheville, N.C., and is university writing instructor.

The book is a story of Walling’s search for the truth behind a 60-year-old family secret in the her hometown.

For more information, email [email protected].

Songwriters soughtfor Starkville event

The third annual Cotton District Arts Festival Songwriter’s Competition in Starkville is accepting entries through Jan. 15.

All genres of music will be accepted and the com-petition is open to all ages. Songs will be judged on originality, melody, com-position, structure, and lyrics.

First-, second- and third-place prizes will be awarded $250, $100 and $75 March 1.

Winners also will be given the opportunity to perform their song at the festival. For more informa-tion, email [email protected].

AT THE MOVIES

‘Hobbit’ fans rejoice at New Zealand premiereBy The Associated Press

WELLINGTON, New Zea-land — Wearing elf ears and wizard hats, sitting atop their dad’s shoulders or peer-ing from balconies, tens of thousands of New Zealand-ers watched their favorite “Hobbit” actors walk the red carpet this week at the fi lm trilogy’s hometown premiere.

An Air New Zealand plane freshly painted with “Hobbit” characters fl ew low over Wellington’s Embassy Theatre, eliciting roars of approval from the crowd.

Sam Rashidmardani, 12, said he came to see Gollum actor Andy Serkis walk the red carpet — and he wasn’t disappointed.

“It was amazing,” Rashid-mardani said of the evening, adding his Gollum impres-sion: “My precious.”

British actor Martin Free-man, who brings come-dic timing to the lead role of Bilbo Baggins, said he

thought director Peter Jack-son had done a fantastic job

on “The Hobbit: An Unex-pected Journey.”

“He’s done it again,” Free-man said in an interview on the red carpet. “If it’s possi-ble, it’s probably even better than ‘The Lord of the Rings.’ I think he’s surpassed it.”

While it is unusual for a city so far from Hollywood to host the premiere of a hoped-for blockbuster, Jack-son’s fi lming of his lauded ‘LOTR’ trilogy and now “The Hobbit” in New Zealand has helped create a fi lm indus-try here. The fi lm will open in theaters around the world next month.

One of the talking points of the fi lm is the choice by Jackson to shoot it using 48 frames per second instead of the traditional 24 in hopes of improving the picture quality.

Some say the images come out too clear and look so realistic that they take away from the magic of the fi lm medium. Jackson likens it to advancing from vinyl records to CDs.

“I really think 48 frames is pretty terrifi c and I’m look-ing forward to seeing the reaction,” Jackson said on the red carpet. “It’s been talked about for so long, but fi nally the fi lm is being released and people can decide for themselves.”

Jackson said it was strange working on the project so intimately for two years and then having it suddenly taken away as the world got to see the movie.

“It spins your head a little bit,” he said.

Aidan Turner, who plays the dwarf Kili in the movie, said his character is reckless and thinks he’s charming.

“I don’t get to play real people it seems, I only get to play supernatural ones,” he said. “So playing a dwarf didn’t seem that weird, actually.

Perhaps the most well-known celebrities to walk the

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cast member Martin Freeman, left, who plays Bilbo Baggins in “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” embraces director Peter Jackson at the movie’s premiere.

See Hobbit, Page C2.

By Matt [email protected]

The tree inside Toot’s Gro-cery looks like a Christmas tree now, but it is only one of its many incarnations.

Whether it’s Mardi Gras, foot-ball season or Christmas, the tree changes month-to-month, thanks to lunch patron Maureen Corcoran who coaxed owner Pat Dennis about a decade ago to keep the tree up all year.

“She said, ‘If you’ll leave it up, I’ll decorate it once a month for different things that are going on,’” Dennis said.

Since then, Cor-coran, an associate technical director at the Engineer Research and Develop-ment Center, has visited monthly putting unique, folksy ornaments on it to accom-pany the most current holiday or time of year.

“She supplies all the deco-rations and just comes in every few weeks and takes care of it,” Dennis said. “They do things for PAWS (animal rescue), things for the troops, Mardi Gras, Thanks-giving, football, all the schools — stuff like that.

“People love it,” he continued. “They come in in the summer and

Toot’s Christmas tree evolves into year-round tradition

See Toot’s, Page C2.

Maureen Corcoran, right, and Rae Gore decorate the Toot’s Christ-mas tree.

ELI BAYLIS•THE VICKSBURG POST

FILE•THE VICKSBURG POST

Maureen Corcoran, left, and Julie Kelley, stand next to the tree decorated for Memorial Day.

Page 2: Corcoran Seasonal Tree

C2 Sunday, December 2, 2012 The Vicksburg Post

HobbitContinued from Page C1.

Toot’sContinued from Page C1.

carpet were Cate Blanchett and Elijah Wood, who reprise their roles in the LOTR in the “Hobbit.”

“Mostly I came here to see everyone. I like them all,” said fan Aysu Shahin, 16, adding that Wood was her favorite. She said she wanted to see the movie “as soon as

possible. I’m excited for it.” At a news conference ear-

lier in the day, Jackson said many younger people are happy to watch movies on their iPads.

“We just have to make the cinema-going experience more magical and more spec-tacular to get people coming

back to the movies again,” he said.

Jackson said only about 1,000 of the 25,000 theaters that will show the film world-wide are equipped to show 48 frames, so most people will see it in the more traditional format. The movie has also been shot in 3D.

A handful of animal rights protesters held signs at the premiere.

The protest by the group People for the Ethical Treat-ment of Animals comes after several animal wranglers said three horses and up to two dozen other animals had died during the making

of the movies because they were housed at an unsafe farm.

Jackson’s spokesman earlier acknowledged two horses had died prevent-able deaths at the farms but said the production company worked quickly to improve stables and other facilities

and that claims of mistreat-ment were unfounded.

“No mistreatment, no abuse. Absolutely none,” Jackson said at the news conference.

local happeningsin town

‘Miracle on 34th Street’2 p.m. today and Dec. 9 and 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday at the Parkside Playhouse, 101 Iowa Ave.; $12 general admission, $10 for seniors, $7 for students 13 and older and $5 for children 12 and younger; 601-636-0471, visit www.vicksburgtheatreguild.com .

KCS Holiday Express4 p.m. today at the Old Depot Museum, 1010 Levee St.; free; in-cludes Santa and his sleigh, reindeer and a miniature village, a ginger bread boxcar, the elves’ workshop, the reindeer stable, and a little red caboose; www.kcsouthern.com.

Holiday grief workshop6 p.m. Tuesdays through Dec. 11; 1414 Cherry St.; free; based on Granger E. Westberg’s book “Good Grief”; 601-636-5703.

Miss Mississippi Trunk Show 2 to 4 p.m. today at the Vicksburg Convention Center; free, but donations of a teddy bear for the Blair E. Batson children and old eye glasses are encouraged; 601-638-6746.

St. Aloysius Luminaria Prayer Service7 p.m. Wednesday at Balzli Stadium/Farrell Field; free; $10 to purchase luminaries honoring loved ones; 601-636-2256, www.vicksburgcatholic.org.

Vicksburg Art Association Gala 7:30 -11 p.m. Friday at the Firehouse Gallery at Main and Open-wood streets; $25 in advance and $35 at the door; includes cocktails, food and a silent auction; 601-638-9221, Attic Gallery on Washington Street.

Confederate Christmas Ball7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday at the Old Court House Museum on Cherry Street; $25, advance tickets only; period costumes en-couraged; 601-636-0741, [email protected].

Breakfast with Santa and Wrap It Up Gift Show8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at the Vicksburg Convention Center; $7; includes breakfast, reindeer games and prizes, cookie decorat-ing in Mrs. Claus’ kitchen, photos with Santa and holiday ven-dors; 601-630-2929, visit www.vccmeet.com, email [email protected].

V105.5 Christmas Caroling Contest2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 9, 6 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 10-11 and finals 6 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Vicksburg Convention Center, 1600 Mulberry St; $6 each night of the competition, children 12 and younger free; 601-883-0848.

Art At Heart4-5 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays for elementary students, Thursdays for junior and senior high students; $45 registration, $50 per month; drawing, painting, design, textiles and pottery; 1915-D Mission 66; Lisa Grant, instructor; 601-415-9592, www.artatheart.webs.com.

Central Mississippi Prevention Service3:30-6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; 2406 Grove St.; daily homework assistance for grades K-12; 601-631-0102.

After-school tutoring program3:30-5:30 Mondays-Wednesdays; Kings Empowerment gym,

224 R.L. Chase Circle; $20 per month; 601-634-4756, 601-634-4788.

SCHC5th annual Holly Days Arts and Crafts show: 9 a.m. -3 p.m. Saturday; $1; vendors and performances by local talent; Car-ol at Christmas: 2:30 p.m. today and 7:30 p.m. Monday; free, donations encouraged; presented by the Vicksburg Chamber Choir; Holiday Appetizer Workshop: 5:30 -7 p.m. Tuesday; $30 members, $35 nonmembers; William Furlong, instructor; reser-vations required; Vicksburg High School Singe Feaste: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; $25; reservations required; Saint Joseph Orchestra Christmas Concert: 3 p.m. Dec. 16; free, donations encouraged; River Kids after-school art program: 4-5:15 p.m. Thursdays; free; for grades 1-6; Karen Biendenharn and Regina Renot, instructors; limit 60 students. For information, contact the Southern Cultural Heritage Center at 601-631-2997, email [email protected], or visit www.southernculture.org.

2012 Heritage Music Series Presented by the Vicksburg Blues Society www.vicksburgheri-tage.com. 8 p.m. Dec. 31; New Year’s Eve Gala; $75; B’nai B’rith Literary Club, 721 Clay St.

out of town‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’2:30 p.m. today at the Swor Auditorium, 200 S. Capital St., by Mississippi College Department of Communications; $8, $5 for students, $4 each for groups of 20 or more; 601-925-3454.

Hinds Community College events7 p.m. Monday, Cain Cochran Hall, Raymond Campus; fall choir concert; free; 8 a.m.- 3 p.m. Wednesday, Marie Hull Gallery, Ray-mond Campus; faculty member art exhibit; free; 12:45-2 p.m. Wednesday, Fine Arts Complex, Utica Campus; Annual Christ-mas Choir Concert; free; 601-857-3322.

Rolling Fork Christmas parade 4 p.m. Wednesday through downtown to South Delta High School; A Beary Merry Christmas; 662-873-6261.

Port Gibson Christmas Pilgrimage10 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 9; $20; tour of old and new homes and historic churches; 601-437-4351 or 601-437-0606.

Mississippi Chorus concert8 p.m. Dec. 15 Trinity Presbyterian Church, 5301 Old Canton Road; From Heaven on High: Festive Music for Christmas in-cludes The Mississippi Girlchoir, members from The Mississip-pi Symphony Orchestra and The Mississippi Chorus Chamber Singers; $20 general admission, $18 for seniors, $5 for students with a student I.D.; tickets at the door, www.mschorus.org; 601-278-3351.

nightlifeDiamondJacks Casino & Hotel3990 Washington St., 601-630-43939 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday and Saturdays at The Party Pit Stage, free• DJ Too Tall — through December • DJ too Tall — 6 -10 p.m. Dec. 31• Mo Money — 10 p.m. -2 a.m. Dec. 31

Rainbow Hotel and Casino1350 Warrenton Road, 601-636-75759 p.m. -1 a.m., free at The Lone Wolf

• Comedy night — Thursdays • Phil Vaught — Friday and Saturday• Sweet Root — Dec. 14-15• Stormy — Dec. 21-22• Orphan Annie — Dec. 28-29• Dr. Zarr — Dec. 318 p.m. — Lady Luck Arena, $5• Bobby Rush — Saturday

Beechwood Lounge4451 Clay St., 601-636-3761On stage, with a cover charge, at 9:15 p.m. • Snazz — Friday and Saturday• U.S. — Dec. 15• Miles Flatt — Dec. 21-22• Ted Holeman Band — Dec. 29• High Road Out — Dec. 31

Ameristar Casino4116 Washington St. 601-638-1000, www.ameristar.comFree at Cabaret Lounge: • LaNise Kirk — Variety; Friday-Saturday• Ben Shaw — Variety; Dec. 14-15• Sinamon Leaf — Variety; Dec. 21-22• Nu Corp — R&B/Variety; Dec. 28-31 Free at Bottleneck Bar:• Vicksburg’s Got the Blues — 7-10 p.m. Thursdays• Double Down VJ; DJ/Dance — Fridays and Saturdays

Cedar Grove Restaurant2200 Oak St., 601-601-636-10006-9 p.m. Fridays — Mr. Bee

Eddie Monsour’s at the Biscuit Company1100 Washington St., 601-638-1571• 8-11 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays — Karaoke• 8 p.m. Wednesdays — Biscuit & Jam; open mic• Thursdays — Ladies night

Jacques’ at Battlefield Inn4137 N. Frontage Road, 601-661-6264• 9 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday — Karaoke

LD’s Kitchen1111 Mulberry St., 601-636-9838• 8:30 p.m. second and fourth Tuesday — Central Mississippi Blues Society Band, local artists; free• 8:30 p.m. first and third Tuesday — Soul Unlimited and Sounds Unlimited; free

Roca Restaurant & Bar127 Country Club Drive, 601-638-0800• 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays — Ben Shaw

The Upper End Lounge1306 Washington St., 601-634-8333With a $3 cover charge:• 7-11 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays — Karaoke• 7-9 p.m. Thursdays — Ladies night• 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays — D.J.

laugh at it and ask, ‘What are you doing with a Christmas tree up?’ I say, ‘Does it look like a Christmas tree?’”

For that reason, Corcoran said, they decided to rename the tree.

“People come in and they’ll say, ‘Christ-mas is over,’” Corcoran said. “It’s a sea-sonal tree, not a Christmas tree. I’m not a decorator, so whatever comes up gets on the tree.”

Corcoran said after two or three years, other customers began adding to the tree, solidifying its place in the store located at 2500 Confederate Ave.

Corcoran said customers bring in team mascots during football season and even suggest different themes.

“When the customers got involved, we knew it was here to stay,” Corcoran said. “It’s definitely a mainstay in Vicksburg.”

For Corcoran, Halloween, Memorial Day and the August decorations are her favorite.

For Memorial Day, she puts mementos, names and pictures of local veterans and service-members on the tree.

“We decided to do something special

for Memorial Day, and that’s how that came about,” Corcoran said. “Then Hal-loween is fun because we have the ghoul tree-topper that talks when people come in, and the football one is a favor-ite. Everybody likes to see their team represented.”

Julie Kelley, a geologist at ERDC and one of Corcoran’s friends, began lending a hand eight years ago in the seasonal tree’s early days.

“It’s fun because we eat lunch here a lot,” Kelley said. “I usually come in for lunch while she’s decorating so I’ll help her out. It’s kind of a social thing to come visit with Pat and decorate.”

The decorations are not just for aes-thetic pleasure either, Corcoran said.

During August, she hangs pictures of animals that PAWS has for adoption.

After Mardi Gras, Corcoran said she will try something new in 2013.

“I haven’t done a basketball or baseball tree, but I am collecting some of that,” Corcoran said. “It’s not as easy to find around here as football stuff.”

Eli Baylis•The Vicksburg PosT

Rae Gore puts the angel on top of the tree.