The Charlestown Beautification Committee would like to invite the public to participate in their Founder’s Day auction. This year the auction will be held during Founder’s Day weekend, Saturday, June 30 at 12 noon at Greenway Park.
    Founder’s Day weekend is a huge celebration for the City of Charlestown and its surrounding communities. It will begin on Friday night, June 29, with lots of amusements for the kids, crafts, good food and family entertainment. Saturday is action packed kicking off Saturday with the Founder’s Day parade at 10 a.m. and ending the fun with a spectacular fire works display at 9:30 p.m.
    With a crowd estimated at around 20,000, the CBC needs your help in keeping the celebration, along with Trunk or Treat on the square and Light Up Charlestown going.
    Please donate an item or items for the auction. Baskets are always a good idea. There are several different themes for your family or business to participate in. For example, candle, family fun night, bath and body, hunting and fishing, Nascar, Hot Wheels, and Barbie, just to name a few.
    They are in need of antique items, restaurant and hotel and movie gift certificates. Any item will be appreciated.
    Please call Rhonda Davidson at 256-5714 with any questions or to arrange for pick up of your donation. Donations can also be delivered to Donna Coomer at Charlestown City Hall. If mailing donation please mail it to: 7101 Dave Carr Road, Charlestown, 47111. Donations need to be in by Wednesday, June 27.

by JANNA ROSS
Managing Editor
Green Banner Publications

    A candlelight vigil to remember and honor loved ones lost or injured to drinking and driving will be held later this month.
    Two sisters who are actively involved in the Louisville Metro/Southern Indiana Chapter of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) are planing the candlelight vigil with help from community supporters.
    Patricia McCollum and Patty Clark know to well how it feels to lose a loved one to a drunk driver.
    Their brother, Lester Clark, was killed by a drunk driver on February 1, 1992 in a two vehicle head on collision on Highway 111 at the Warrick/Harrison County Line. Clark was 33 when he was killed. He left behind a wife, eight year old daughter and a 22-month old son.
    The sisters have worked diligently to organize the candlelight vigil to help honor and remember their brother and the many other victims in Southern Indiana.
    The vigil will be held Friday, June 15 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Hauss Square at the New Albany City/County Building.
    "The reason we are having this vigil is to honor the loved ones of Southern Indiana residents who have been killed or injured by a drunk driver," Clark stated. "We have not had a MADD Chapter in Southern Indiana for many years and we want the residents to know that we are here for them."
    The vigil will have many community leaders who will be speaking during the event. Besides McCollum and Clark, New Albany Mayor James Garner, Floyd County Prosecutor Keith Henderson, Floyd County Sheriff Daryl Mills and New Albany Police Department’s Todd Bailey.
    The vigil will feature the reading of the names of loved ones while songs are performed and the lighting of the candles, which will be provided by MADD.
    MADD will also have a table where you may sign up for contact information and submit the names they will be reading during the vigil.
    Pictures of loved ones lost to drunk driving may also be given to MADD during the vigil. The pictures will be turned into a board for Indiana and will be used throughout the area for MADD functions and presentations.
    "They must sign a release for us to be able to use their picture, but that is all that needs to be done," McCollum stated.
    She added, "We encouraged everyone to come out to the vigil who has felt the pain of losing a loved one. Anyone who has known someone who was killed or just to show your support of the MADD mission, everyone is invited and encouraged to attend."
    Clark agreed. "They don’t have to be family members who have lost anyone, it can be someone who has just been affected by it or anyone who wants to show their support of the tragedy that affects this country," she concluded.
    The vigil will be a simple program that will last approximately 30 to 60 minutes.
    For more information about the vigil or about the Southern Indiana MADD Chapter please call 812-725-3006.

     The Founder’s Day Pageant Director Linda Dornbush has announced some changes for the 2007 pageant. The event, usually held at Charlestown High School, will be moved to the Arts & Enrichment Center. Dornbush and CBC Co-Chair Donna Coomer toured the facility and determined that because of the amenities available, it would be the best location for the contests.
    Also new this year, the winner of the pageant will have the option of taking the full $1,000 scholarship or taking $500 and using the other $500 to apply to enter the Miss Indiana USA Pageant for a chance to win further prizes. The date has been set for Sunday, June 24.
    The deadline for entering the pageant is Saturday, June 9.
    Added this year will be a Junior Miss Pageant and Little Miss along with the annual Prince and Princess contest. The age group for the Little Miss pageant will be seven to nine years old and the age group for the Junior Miss Pageant will be 10 to 12 years old. The age group for the Prince and Princess contest will be four to six years old. The age limit for the Founders Day Queen pageant is 15 to 20 years old on the day of the pageant.
    For applications for the contests please visit Charlestown City Hall or www.ctownbeautification.com.
    CBC Members Deanna Moore and Dorothy Witten will be assisting Dornbush. The Kentucky National Guard Captain Bob Geary will be the Master of Ceremonies assisted by former Miss Teen Jillian Dornbush and U.S. Air Force General Michael Dornbush.
    CBC members Ted and Pat Little have arranged for the Prince and Princess contestants to ride in the parade in a new choo-choo train provided by the Snyder’s of Seymour.
    CBC member and Charlestown Assistant Police Chief Chuck Ledbetter is in charge of the parade.
    Henderson’s Flower Shop will be providing the roses for the winner once again and The New Washington State Bank will be presenting awards and scholarships.
    Please contact Dornbush at 599-3865 or Donna at 256-7126. There are a limited number of openings in each contest.

    The City of Charlestown’s seventh annual Founder’s Day Festival is just around the corner, and this year’s festivities are going to be better than ever!
   The Prince and Princess contests, Little Miss Pageant, Junior Miss Pageant and Queen Pageants will all be held on June 2 beginning at 6 p.m. at the Arts & Enrichment Center. Applications must be received by May 25 and are available at City Hall or online at ctownbeautification.com.
   The 3-on-3 basketball tournament will be held on June 23 at Charlestown Crossing. Check-in and registration will begin at 8 a.m. and the games will begin at 9 a.m. Registration forms are available online at ctownbeautification.com and will also be available at City Hall and other locations around town.
   Then, they are kicking off the weekend of fun on the evening of June 29 with live musical performances and much more!
   But that’s only the beginning!
   The fun roars into Saturday with a full day of family activities including a parade, dog show, hula-hoop contest, bungee trampoline, clowns, 5K walk/run, and new this year, a live auction. Whew! But there’s more... amusement rides for the kids (and kids-at-heart), bargain hunting in the arts and crafts booths, great food and live entertainment provided by various local bluegrass and country artists. And as the light fades over Greenway Park Saturday night, they’re going to light it back up with a fantastic fireworks show, brining the festival to a brilliant end.
   There’s going to be something for everyone! And with a projected attendance of over 20,000 people, that’s saying a lot!
   They have worked hard this y ear to bring the city a great festival. And now they would like to welcome your business to join them in the festivities. Mayor Mike Hall, and committee Chairperson Donna Coomer invite you to become a supporter for this wonderful community celebration. Whether you are an individual, small business or a corporate organization, they welcome your donation or sponsorship of any amount. They also need volunteers to help with all the events throughout the year.
   All proceeds benefit the Charlestown Beautification Committee. The purpose of the committee is to improve the community’s pride and spirit through voluntary participation in civic actions that enhance the appearance of Charlestown’s public areas and provide family-oriented activities for the residents of the community. The goal is to live in a community everyone can be proud of.
   You won’t want to miss this tremendous opportunity to show your support and the chance to foster goodwill with local patrons. If you are interested in sponsorships or volunteering please call Donna Coomer at 256-7126.