Barbecue winners shown with Rep. Barry Mask are Crystal, Tripp, and Adam Hawthorne, of Hawthorne windows in Kinston, Alabama, won the Butts, Chicken, and Ribs awards, the Faulkner-Gailer team, represented by Adam Donaldson (right), won the Brisket award.
The third annual “Tallassee Now!” barbecue, which is designed to showcase the positive residential and business environments of the city, was held on Saturday, June 11, and was pronounced to be a success by event officials.
According to Greater Tallassee Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jeanna Kervin, the sales of barbecue and camp stew set a record.
“We served right at 1,000 plates,” Kervin said, “and we sold over 30 quarts of camp stew. We did a lot better than we had hoped, so we were very pleased with the outcome.”
The weather was warm, breezy, and cloudy, which probably added to the turnout at the various locations participating in the promotion, said Kervin. An occasional light drizzle occurred,“...but it wasn’t enough to bring us inside, and it didn’t dampen us enough to make us quit,” the Chamber director said.
Kervin said she received positive comments from contestants in the new-for-2011 barbecue cook-off who used Bell Park in Tallassee’s Five Points area to prepare their fare overnight.
“They loved the venue, had a great time, and had some camaraderie going,” she said. “That was a great place for them.”
Kervin emphasized that this year’s event was to draw participants and visitors from elsewhere.
“One of the things that had really hope to do this year was to branch out and bring in out-of-towners,” Kervin said, “and as best as we can tell, we were successful in meeting that goal, too. We had numerous inquiries from Birmingham, Montgomery, and elsewhere, and one local merchant told me that there were people in her business all day that she did not recognize.”
A “welcome center” involving local real estate properties, potential business locations, and local organizations was set up in the courtroom at City Hall, and stayed busy the entire time it was open.
“That was very successful,” Kervin said of the welcome center, “and we’re going to continue doing that next year. We’re also planning on doing something similar at Trade Day in October, to give people information about our city.”
City tours were conducted by Ronald Brantley, and included a walking tour of the Tallassee armory.
“I understand the Armory tour was a ‘hot item’,” said Kervin, “and the wine-tasting event at the Trophy Room was very nice.”
Live music was provided at Veteran’s Park, on a flatbed trailer behind City Hall, in Veterans Park, and in front of Studio B on South Ann Ave. Kervin that she had numerous positive comments about the concerts, with a disproportionate amount of praise garnered by the Men’s Chorus from Flat Rock Missionary Baptist Church.
Cook-off awards for the were presented late Saturday afternoon on the flatbed trailer located behind City Hall.
The Hawthorne Windows team from Kinston, located in southwest Coffee County, nearly pulled off a sweep, as they won three of four first prizes, in the Boston Butts, Chicken, and Ribs categories. The Faulkner-Gailer team from Montgomery prevented the Kinston visitors from garnering a shutout, taking first place in the Brisket category.
Among the additional facets already being considered for next year is the interpolation of arts and crafts, as well as a children’s play area, Kervin noted.
“We want this to grow, so we’re going to review this, and see what worked well and what we can add,” she said.
The “Tallassee Now!” event is considered an important opportunity for the community, and Kervin praised the efforts of those involved.
“We had over 200 volunteers associated with that event who dedicated their time,” said Kervin. “We really appreciate their help; it was vital to the success.