By Gwen DeRu
HAPPY BIRTHDAY…TO YOU… DR. JESSE J. LEWIS, SR. LEKAMEREN DERU, KACARYS BRAXTON AND LEKOTA DERU!! …MANY MANY MORE!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
FROM ALL OF US… TO ALL OF YOU!
WISHING YOU THE BEST OF EVERYTHING!
NOW…
….Here are a few things for the season…
TSU SCHOLARSHIP BRUNCH – TSU Scholarship Brunch is Saturday. Let’s bring the New Year in while helping students that attend TSU by attending the TSU brunch. Tennessee State University National Alumni Association, Birmingham Chapter is hosting its Annual Scholarship Brunch Saturday, 11 a.m., at the Harbert Center. Mr. Dwayne H. Tucker is a TSU graduate, the Tennessee State University Foundation Board Chairman, Lead Academy Board Chairman, Dallas County Community College District Foundation member, and Gleneagles County Club Board of Governors among many other affiliations. He is a True Tennessee State University graduate and dedicated alumnus. Join other TSU alumni on the first Saturday of the year and attend the scholarship brunch. Call Angela Day at (205) 601-0801 or email angelalbday@aol.com or Jacquelyn A. Fail (205) 566-3746 or email tsujf8@gmail.com.
5th ANNUAL MLK UNITY WALK – The Birmingham Metro Diversity Coalition will host its MLK Unity Walk, January 10 at Railroad Park. This FREE and Family-Friendly event starts at 10 a.m. with a Children Fun Zone, 11:30 a.m. Opening Ceremonies with Activities and White Dove Release, Noon a Fifth Annual MLK Unity Walk. Bring your non-perishable food items.
TEN TIPS FOR SMALL BUSINESSS SUCCESS IN 2015 – 1. Focus on customer service – Examine your current service policy. 2. Unlock the customer service box – Expand the way you think to include more customers and the service experience. 3. Create a website. 4. Set and use an online advertising budget. – Use social media. 5. Market your small business on Pinterest – It is more popular among women and goes across age brackets. 6. Go mobile – Start with text message advertising and go to having an app designed for your own business. 7. Increase your sales by focusing on the right customers – Attract new customers and sell more to the customers you already have. 8. Invest in employee training – How to answer the phone properly, how to increase your return business positive word-of-mouth. 9. Use the cloud – There are advantages that using the cloud can provide – accounting, team efforts. etc. 10. Review your mission statement and vision statement and create a plan to live up to them – Keep your plan on the forefront of your mind. Recreate a plan that will keep your business on track. Then, make this the best Year Ever.
FOR OUTDOORS LOVERS… AFTER NEW YEAR’S DAY WALKS…..
SATURDAY, 10 a.m. Day Hike in Bucks Pocket State Park – Join fellow nature lovers for an easy stroll on trails in this very scenic park. We’ll start at the overlook and walk down to the canyon floor. Along the way we’ll stop by and view two lovely waterfalls. We’ll have lunch at the picnic tables along South Sauty Creek. Total walking distance in Bucks Pocket State Park is about three miles. Hike rated moderate. If time permits, we’ll also drive a short distance to visit High Falls nearby. This is a spectacular, large volume waterfall. Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 7 and up welcome. After the outing enjoy an optional delicious restaurant dinner together. Depart 10 a.m. from the Food Giant parking lot in Pinson. For more contact, Dan Frederick, seoutings@bellsouth.net or (205) 631-4680
SUNDAY, 1 p.m. Day Hike at the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve in Pinson, Jefferson County, Alabama – You are invited to participate in an easy, fun Southeastern Outings short Sunday dayhike in the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve near Pinson. Come walk with us through this heavily wooded area. We’ll hike on the new trail, which has been officially opened since 2012. The trail extends from the upper parking area through the woods to a large creek with a long, sloping waterfall in the middle of the preserve. Please bring at least a quart of drinking water per person with you. Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 7 and over are welcome. Depart 1 p.m. from the Pinson Chevron Service Station.
For more contact, Dan Frederick, email seoutings@bellsouth.net or (205) 631-4680.
HERE ARE A FEW MORE THINGS GOING ON…
THIS WEEKEND… IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT…Spend time with family, set more goals and enjoy the weekend.
Friday…
**Ona’s Music Room is jumping.
**ADAM KLEIN & THE WILDFIRES and SHANE PIASECKI at The Nick on southside.
Saturday…
**New Year’s Weekend party and more is in the Air TIDE AND TIGER LOUNGE, 8 p.m. on Graymont Avenue across the street from Legion Field. Open Tuesday through Sunday.
**ULTIMO HOMBRE at The Nick.
GIFT OF LAUGHTER….IN THE ‘HAM… AT THE STARDOME AND IN DA HOOD… …LAUGHTER FOR THE NEW YEAR…
**AT THE STARDOME…DON’T MISS… GARY OWEN, this weekend… Gary Owen has been entertaining America for more than a decade with his side-splitting comedy. Having performed to sold-out audiences in all the major comedy clubs and theatres across the country, Owen is one of America’s most loved comedians. Gary most recently starred in the Screen Gems blockbuster film “Think Like A Man” which opened at #1 at the box office this spring. His hit one-hour Showtime special “True Story” is now available on DVD. Gary is also the new host of the Shaquille O’Neal “All-Star Comedy Jam” which is touring the country. He can also be seen this fall in the funny video/sketch show “Upload” which he co-hosts with Shaquille O’Neal for TruTV.
COMING SOON…, COWBOY BILL and MEDIUM CINDY KAZA – January 6-10, DON ‘DC’ CURRY – January 16-19, SMOOTH JAZZ – January 22, STEVE McGREW – January 23-25, TONY ROBERTS – January 30 – February 1, DL HUGHLEY – February 6-8, FINIS HENDERSON – February 13-15, SHERYL UNDERWOOD – February 20-21, MIRANDA SINGS – February 7-8 (Tell Bruce that Gwen sent you.) Enjoy some good laughter and fun times while you eat some great food with your friends. For more, call (205) 444-0008.
**MORE LAUGHTER…COMEDY IN DA HOOD at the New Tide and Tiger on Graymont Avenue. Comedians are invited! Call (205) 503-3880 for more.
**JANUARY 9-10 – RAVEL PIANO CONCERTO IN G, Conductor Mei-Ann Chen and Pianist Cedric Tiberghien with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra at the Alys Stephen Center.
**MARCH 5-9 – BRIDGE CROSSING JUBLIEE in Selma, Alabama.
Don’t Forget….
BIRMINGHAM TIMES MARTIN LUTHER KING SPECIAL – If you are interested in this Special Tabloid, publication date is January 15, 2015. It will be a coffee table piece kept all year long. You want to be included. Call (205) 251-5158 Ext 21 for Gwen DeRu or email thelewisgroup@birminghamtimes.com or gwenderu@yahoo.com. This special tabloid is a KEEP-SAKE for one full year. If you know anything about Martin Luther King then you know you should get your business in the Birmingham Times MLK Special Edition.
NOW…. BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUTS!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU… LEKAMEREN DERU, KACARYS BRAXTON, LEKOTA DERU, JANICE BELL, DEIDRA PERRY, CHARLES MCCAULEY, RENEE KEMP-ROTAN, KYLE WHITMIRE, PHYLLIS CONNELL, BETTINA BYRD GILES, MICHAEL GOULD, EVERETT SPRUILL AND TO ALL CELEBRATING!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL YOU BIRTHDAY BALLERS…MANY, MANY MORE HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!! ENJOY!!
Well, that’s it. Tell you more ‘next’ time.
(People, Places and Things by Gwen DeRu is a weekly column. Send comments to my emails: thelewisgroup@birminghamtimes.com or gwenderu@yahoo.com.)
