Published: November 14, 2008 04:13 pm      

Good work in Pocahontas Saturday and great music Sunday at the Carter Fold

Good deeds are part of the Four Seasons Country heritage. From the Salvation Army to the annual Community Christmas Tree program sponsored by the Daily Telegraph and a host of other wonderful programs like Shop with a Cop, the year-end holiday time brings out the best in us around here.

Money is usually involved – especially for those who do not have it. Perhaps not since the “ration” days of World War II or even the Great Depression have so many wondered or worried about how to maintain their living standards. Consumers are hesitant to spend money which reduces store volume which leads to decreased business which in turn forces layoffs, and, well, you get the idea.

Towns are in the same shape. Programs are being cut back or sometimes eliminated due to lack of funds. It is the classic Catch-22 dilemma.

Those who need help are all too often the ones who have the toughest time finding it.

The great old town of Pocahontas has had a rough year. Now, at the end of it is the perhaps the time for anyone who can to help.

Today (Saturday) from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. will be “Pocahontas Clean Up Day” according to my friend Amy Flick.

Amy says that not only will the townspeople and other local friends be working, but a dedicated group of 15 Concord University students will be coming over.

College students from any school will also be welcome to join in, of course, either individually or in groups.

Amy says to bring any equipment like rakes, shovels, leaf blowers, weed eaters, paint brushes, etc. She is working to secure orange vests for those who will be working near or on streets and highways and will have trash bags available, as well, for the clean up work.

A highlight (no pun intended) will be putting up Christmas decorations, as well. The lights and trim work should really make the town sparkle. It might even shine as brightly as the lights in the eyes of those volunteers who can turn out to do a truly good deed.

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Janette Carter, one of the great ladies in regional and national music circles, will be honored posthumously Sunday at the Carter Fold in Hiltons, Va. Janette was the daughter of A.P. and Sara Carter of the famed Original Carter Family. The Carters were part of the foundation of country and traditional music.

To maintain that legacy, Janette promised A.P. back in 1960 – the year he died – that she would try to keep his kind of music alive. She was as good as her word, founding what is now the Carter Family Memorial Music Center which has outstanding shows every Saturday night of the year featuring artists from all over the country.

A gospel concert will be held tomorrow afternoon (Sunday) at 2:30 with Paul Williams & the Victory Trio and the Primitive Quartet. Proceeds will go toward maintenance of the Carter Fold grounds including the concert area, the A.P. Carter home place and the old Carter Store building which features a fantastic collection of musical memorabilia.

Many readers and local music fans visit the Carter Fold often including the yearly August festival celebrating the historic 1927 Bristol recording sessions. Both the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers were “discovered” by Ralph S. Peer in what has given Bristol the inspiration to become known as the Birthplace of County Music.

Rita Forrester, Janette’s daughter, continues to keep the Fold humming along quite nicely and she is instrumental in putting the program together for this gospel concert. According to the memo, this will be some of the sweetest music this side of heaven.

Keep on the Sunny Side.

Larry Hypes is a Tazewell High School teacher and Daily Telegraph columnist.