It’s been a while since we’ve had a 14-month toddler as a house guest and without the supervision of the parents for a few hours; therefore, my memory is hazy about what to expect.
But we’re finding out just how much fun it is because Lachlan Herndon is here visiting, having arrived yesterday afternoon with his parents, Zachary Barrett Herndon, my grandson, and his wife Jessi Queen of Atlanta.
Jessi is a website designer with an international corporation based in Atlanta as well as a professional chalk artist — the reason for their visit. She is featured chalk artist at Chalkfest in downtown Albany today and Zach, an engineer, is learning the art. The event is a partnership between the Albany Museum of Art and the City of Albany. Jessi and Zach are helping turn the 100 block of Pine Avenue into a fall festival featuring professional chalk artists, craft beer sampling, art competition, live music, vendors and more.
So, while mom and dad chalk Pine Avenue under the September sun, we have Lachlan to ourselves. And it’s keeping me, Bruce, Mark, Anne, John, and Courtney on our toes.
I’ll report back about our adventures and I know they will be numerous.
Meanwhile, smile and say hello to visitors here Wednesday and Thursday. Some 75 members of the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the State of Georgia arrive from across the state for Round Table, the annual fall board meeting. Hosted by the Americus Town Committee the two-day event will keep our visitors hopping. Event venues are the Windsor Hotel, the circa 1850s home of Mike and Andrea Powell, The Lee Council House, and the Rylander Theatre. Other activities include a mini reception at the Kinnebrew Co., tours of Café Campesino roastery and the quaint village of Andersonville. Americus Town Committee members have been planning this for about a year, but in earnest the past four months. And everything is coming into place. Kudos for their efforts — they will make our city proud. We have many treasures here to showcase.
Speaking of the Rylander Theatre, the building shone last Friday night for “Rumours — a Musical Tribute to Fleetwood Mac,” that opened the 2018-2019 season presented by the Friends of the Rylander. The house was packed from the orchestra level to the second balcony. Congratulations to the theater’s fine staff for the successful event. Take a bow Heather Stanley, director, Will Dozier, administrator, Ray Mannilla, technical director, and Shatora Smith, patron services.
Elsewhere, I had the opportunity to meet up close and personal two new members of Georgia Southwestern State University’s administrative team: Laura Boren, Ph.D., and Suzanne Smith, Ph.D., at a late afternoon “meet and greet” at the beautiful home of GSW President Neal and Kristi Weaver.
Boren is vice president for student engagement and moved here with her family from Stevensville, Texas, while Smith is vice president and provost for academic affairs and moved here with her family from Portland, Oregon.
Among those I glimpsed there were: Cherilynn Guth, Charlene Pennyman, Jane Arnold, JoAnn Pope, Wilma Kinslow, Laura Kinslow, Reba Hunter, Jeannie Stanfield, Sybil Smith, Mara Durham, Barbara Grogan, Mary Beth Bass, Jessi Simmons, Barbara Raines, Allene Reeves, Pam Smith, and Angela Smith and others I didn’t have a chance to talk with.
Happy birthday this weekend to daughters Helen Penter of Charlotte, N.C., and Lori Shivers, Aaron and Brook Shivers, Charles Christmas, and Carol Wiggins.

Leila Sisson Case lives in Americus.