Americus artist Mary Beth Rogers, our good friend for many years, is an accomplished artist and portraitist. Are artist and portraitist one and the same? I’m not sure. Besides portrait painting, Mary Beth does beautiful landscapes and still life in oil, acrylic, pen and ink and watercolor. Her work hangs, not only at our home, but those of many, one of the most prominent places being Calvary Episcopal Church.  Mary Beth’s large oil on canvas of Calvary’s former priest, the late Fr. Reginald Gunn that hangs in the parish cross-hall is life-size and breathtaking in my opinion and also that of many admirers of her work. She captures Fr. Gunn in his element: baptizing the infant grandson of Dr. Gatewood and Cindy Dudley and the late Mary Faye Powell. It is lovely.
And if you’re not a member of Calvary, you are welcome to visit and view the outstanding piece.
You’ll soon see her work in the form of an eye-catching poster promoting Calvary Episcopal’s third annual art show and sale and related art activities for all ages. The cultural arts event is Thursday, Oct. 19 through Sunday, Oct. 22 in the church parish hall and grounds.
Mary Beth’s study work of the poster was revealed to the show’s art committee earlier this week and is impressive, eye-appealing and creative. Her rendering is of a cornucopia (for fall) in a vivid green overflowing with what one will experience at the event. The logo: Calvary.Cornucopia.Creations. The tag line: A Feast for the Eyes. I look forward to seeing the finished piece as well as attending the art show and sale, featuring artwork mixed with music and food, including the popular sidewalk chalk art competition and a Saturday painting session. Other activities are also in the planning stage that should be fun.
Artists are invited to show and sell. Additional details and information will be posted shortly on Calvary’s website: www.calvaryepiscopalamericus.org
Meanwhile, restoration of the antebellum (circa 1850s) house at 402 W. College St. is zipping along on schedule, according to Brendan Metzler, the operations man-on-site. EQTV is making a pilot film for HGTV featuring steps of the project to be aired before the end of the year. The show is appropriately named: “Americus the Beautiful.” I can’t wait to have a full update on the progress soon.
Sylvia Roland returned earlier this week after spending five days in New York City with her daughter, Sara, and son-in-law Kevin DeStefano of Conway, Arkansas, going especially to celebrate Sara’s passing the CPA exam. Congratulations, Sara. They rented a small apartment in Queens a block from the subway that they zipped here and yon on to see some interesting places that had an historic perspective since Kevin teaches history. Among highlights was touring historic Ellis Island; seeing a performance of the musical, “Hamilton” that mesmerized them; Classic East, a concert featuring six bands performed on consecutive evenings at the Met’s Citi Field Stadium and a Yankee’s baseball game. All in all, Sylvia said it was a great trip.
Elsewhere, Melvin and Wilma Kinslow have returned from a visit with their grandson and his wife, Kyle and Haley Harper Hendrickson and their toddler daughter, Eve, who live in Sheridan, Wyoming. Wilma said it was wonderful seeing them.
Congratulations to Kathryn Fowler Moore, who was sworn into the Georgia Bar Association by Superior Court Judge Rucker Smith on July 7; Pam Davis celebrated her recent birthday at dinner with friends Gayle Alston and her cousin, Beth Alston; John and Rachel Shealy celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary; Sara Saliba turned 93 and celebrated the occasion with family and friends at her home last Sunday; Laura Lee Bernstein has taken a position at Chattahoochee County Middle-High School, teaching business technology and business communication; Kay Reeves of St. Simons and Highlands, N.C., was here this week visiting her mother, Mrs. Herbert Moon, for her birthday; Christine Argo of Atlanta is here this weekend visiting her parents and Lisa Bliss McMichael, former resident, is in town from her home in Dublin.

Leila Sisson Case lives in Americus.