Area to host 3 Christian concerts over next 2 weeks

by Ann Wallace • The Leaf-Chronicle • February 20, 2010

Clarksville tries to shine light on cancer

Survivors, victims remembered, honored during annual ceremony

By KEVIN SAULS
The Leaf-Chronicle

Survivors, family members and supporters gathered in remembrance and hope for the American Cancer Society's "Love Lights a Tree" celebration Sunday night at Gateway Medical Center.

"This is very meaningful to me," said Clarksville's Sylvia Perry, a 30-year cancer survivor. "I'm blessed. One of my teacher friends, Judy Baumgartner, passed away in 1995 (from breast cancer) and I always light a candle for her."

Perry was accompanied by her daughter, Jill Worthington.

"We've been here every year," Worthington said.

The tribute was first held in 1989 at the Smith-Trahern Mansion. The 2009 effort already has raised $6,500 for cancer research this month, and donations will be accepted through the end of December.

Donations can be made by calling Wanda Burchette of the cancer society at 647-4762, or by sending mail to Burchette at 9 Lacey Lane, Clarksville, TN 37043.

"It's an emotional event for us," Burchette said. "It is and it has been for years."

The honorary chair this year is Dr. Brent Dennis, a mental health therapist from Clarksville and a patient whose prostate cancer has spread to his spine.

"It's a great honor to be honorary chair for 2009," Dr. Dennis said. "There aren't many upsides to having cancer, but it's definitely an honor to reinforce the American Cancer Society and all the good folks involved, and to increase awareness of prostate cancer."

Dennis said prostate is the most common type of cancer among men and the third-leading cause of cancer deaths among American males — 30,000 per year.

The tree, located on the lawn in front of the main Gateway entrance, split the cold, dark evening with a wave of Dr. Dennis' hand — and the surreptitious pushing of a button by someone nearby.

Lights were purchased in honor or cancer patients, survivors and victims, with proceeds benefiting the cancer society.

Eight-year cancer survivor Annette Ezell of Clarksville attended the lighting with her husband, Tony.

"We try to be here every year we can," she said. "My dad and my aunt died of cancer. ... I've got a lot of people (to remember)."

Clarksville resident Virginia Lowe said, "I wanted to support my friends I've known who died of cancer, and my father died. I also wanted to support the hospital."

Pastor Jimmy Terry of Tabernacle Baptist Church offered an invocation, and remarks by Burchette and Barbara Hampton followed. Hampton's husband, cancer patient Dr. James Hampton, was the honorary chair last year but was unable to attend Sunday because of low immunity.

Lydia Walker, a 17-year-old songwriter from Clarksville, sang her original composition titled "Seasons," and later led the audience in "Silent Night." Terry and his wife, Servella, led an impromptu song called "Thank You, Lord."

Dennis followed Mrs. Hampton to the microphone and said he is "doing pretty well."

He advised those gathered to "embrace our mortality to live the time we have as completely as we can" and "to live every day as though life may be short."

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November 24, 2009

Clarksville's Love Lights a Tree to shine on Dec. 6

By ANN WALLACE
The Leaf-Chronicle

When Wanda Burchett sees lights flickering on a Christmas tree, her mind often wanders across two decades of tradition.

A tradition where people let their love shine.

Burchett is the local coordinator for the 20th Anniversary Love Lights a Tree event, which serves as a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

The first local Love Lights a Tree event was held in 1989 at the Smith Trahern Mansion.

"I had been to a meeting in Georgia, and they had done one. I felt like I wanted Clarksville to have a Loving Tree," said Burchett, who emphasized the dedication of "lots and lots of volunteers through the years have kept the lights burning."

This year's honorary chairman, Dr. Brent Dennis, is expected to flip the switch at 5 p.m. Dec. 6 to ignite the glimmering sparkle on the lawn of Gateway Medical Center.

Many people think the Love Lights Tree is only to honor loved ones who have battled and continue to struggle with cancer.

Burchett points out people can buy lights to honor anyone who has touched their life in a special way.

"The lights can be in honor or in memory of anyone, it doesn't have to be someone who had cancer," Burchett said.

People can opt to commemorate special occasions, birthdays, anniversaries, births, holidays — anything that is special to them.

Contributions help to fund the mission of the American Cancer Society in research and advocacy.

A light can be bought for $5; a string of lights for $100 with a corporate sponsorship at $500.

"We've always kept the single light purchase at $5 because we felt that way anyone could buy a light for loved ones," Burchett said.

Anyone wanting to purchase a light can mail a donation to Burchett at 9 Lacey Lane, Clarksville, TN, 37043, making checks payable to the American Cancer Society. Sponsors need to indicate the name of the person they wish to honor or memorialize along with the name and address of who you want notified of your gift.

"We will send a card of acknowledgement to the donor or to a family member," Burchett said.

Anyone wanting their honoree to be listed in the Dec. 6 ceremony program needs to send the donation to the local volunteer committee by Dec. 3.

Donations will be accepted throughout the month to further support varied critical research projects with the potential to affect thousands of families.

The local ceremony will include a musical performance by high school student and recording artist Lydia Walker.

The Rev. Jimmy Terry, pastor of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, will offer the invocation.

Refreshments will be served inside the hospital.

"Gateway will take care of hanging the lights and is providing the refreshments," Burchett said. "They, like all of our volunteers, are why Love Lights a Tree is in Clarksville every year."

Additional Facts

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Church invites locals to perform at its Coffeehouse

Young Walker releases CD
By STACY SMITH SEGOVIA
The Leaf-Chronicle

Lydia Walker is 14 years old. Already, the young musician is releasing not just a CD, but her third CD.

"Up From the Ashes" will be released at Overflow 235 Coffeehouse on Sunday. Overflow 235 is a 2,500-square-foot Christian coffeehouse opened by Greg and Denise Moore in September. In addition to live music, the nonsmoking hangout has cozy couches, a 50-inch TV, PlayStation 2 and wireless Internet access.

Lydia describes her music as Christian, folk and acoustic. She has written 50 songs in the past two years, and nine of them are on the new CD. Lydia sings both harmony and melody on each song.

Her great-grandfather, bluegrass guitarist Bill Edlin, is a major musical influence, Lydia says. So are many other members of her musical family, including her mother, pianist Jennifer Walker.

"It's a part of the New Year's Eve party the church singles ministry is having at the coffee-house," Jennifer Walker says about her daughter's release of "Up From the Ashes." "Her CD release party is the kickoff. She's pretty excited."

Stacy Smith Segovia is a features writer for The Leaf-Chronicle. She can be reached at 245-0237 or by e-mail at stacysegovia@theleafchronicle.com.

Originally published December 29, 2006.

 

Coffee house overflows with fellowship
First Baptist Church opens Overflow 235 with outreach and coffee on menu
By ANN WALLACE
The Leaf-Chronicle, September 23, 2006



"The java is brewing, the cups are out and the doors are open at Overflow 235 Coffee House, a Christian cafe on Madison Street.

Overflow 235 opened a few weeks ago as a community outreach for single adults and college students.

"When you come in here you don't feel pressure when you experience the fellowship," says 19-year-old Scott Patterson, an APSU accounting major. "Great things can happen in this kind of environment."

About a year ago, the idea for a Christian coffeehouse started percolating in Greg Moore's mind, says the single adults and college students pastor at First Baptist Church.

"My generation didn't sit around drinking coffee, but today these guys do — especially the flavored drinks," Moore says.

The cafe quickly became a favorite hangout for Angela and Ben Fagan.

"It's a nice break to get out of the house, to read and relax," says Ben Fagan.

"The cheap drinks" are a big hit with Angela Fagan, a returning Austin Peay State University freshman.

Open 7 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays and Fridays, and 9:30 a.m. Sundays, it's a casual getaway, with free beverages offered on Sunday mornings and Wednesdays.

"You know it's cool to have a place to have fun, but also recognize it as a ministry," says 22-year-old Steven Head, who is working on his divinity degree and hopes to become a chaplain in the U.S. Army.

Overflow 235 features 2,500 square feet of space for young adults who want to relax in a non-smoking, Christian environment. A 50-inch big screen TV dominates one wall, opposite a comfortable sectional sofa. A Play Station 2 and wireless Internet are also available. Moore credits his wife, Denise, with the cozy earth-tone decor.

"She gets all the kudos for that," he says.

Wayne Hicks, 27, a Houston County elementary school counselor, sees the laid back ambiance of Overflow 235 as a "great avenue to meet new people."

"Finding a place to hang out for a young Christian guy is not easy," says Hicks, who attends First Baptist Church.

Last weekend, Lydia Walker, a local Christian musician, performed original material. She treated the audience to her version of an Overflow theme song that had everybody applauding and chiming in for the chorus.

Moore hopes to offer live entertainment on Fridays as often as possible.

"I'd like to come back to Overflow 235, it's a really good atmosphere," says Lydia Walker, a 14-year-old home school student.

Whether Overflow 235 patrons fancy cappuccinos or lattes, they are pleased by the addition to Clarksville's choices of hangouts.

"You know there aren't too many Christian environments around town," Patterson says. "I'm really hoping this place expands."

Ann Wallace is a features writer for The Leaf-Chronicle. She can be reached at 245-0287 or by e-mail at annwallace@theleafchronicle.com."

'Quiet child' uses her voice to connect on deeper level
By STACY SMITH SEGOVIA
The Leaf-Chronicle, September 8th, 2006

Lydia Walker could have stayed in her room and sung her songs to herself. Many 12-year-olds would have done just that, the thought of recording their own CD a distant dream, a "maybe someday ..." For Lydia, now 14, someday is now. The singer and guitarist has 50 original songs, all written in the last two years, and two CDs, "Revival" and "Revolution of the Heart." "My first song started as a poem. I was learning guitar around the same time," Lydia says. "When I learned my first chord, I put the words to music. It expanded from there." Lydia has been surrounded by music all her life, starting with her great-grandfather, Bill Edlin, a bluegrass guitarist living near Dickson. She has her own backup singers in the family as well — her mother, Jennifer Walker, plays piano and was a voice major at Austin Peay State University, and her sister, Rosa Walker, 17, just started her freshman year at APSU, studying voice. Lydia had always thought she would follow in her mother's path and learn to play the piano as several other relatives had, but fate intervened. "I started to play piano, but when I heard one of my neighbors playing guitar, I was inspired by that," she says. "I got some guitar books and started with some of those. I never have taken lessons." Jennifer Walker, who homeschools Lydia, says she was astonished by the teen's musical abilities. "She was always our quiet child," Walker says. "As soon as she started playing guitar, she started writing songs. We said, 'Whoa! This is something else.' We were amazed." Now, Lydia performs solo shows in public, like the one she'll do 1 p.m. Sunday as part of Riverfest Revival. She also designs her own Web site, www.freewebs.com/lydiaw and designs sites for friends. She'll have copies of the "Revolution of the Heart" CD and T-shirts for sale for $10 each at Sunday's show. Lydia says her favorite song right now is "I'll Remember." "It's sitting on the front porch, talking to someone special who is telling you about the good old days, them going on to heaven and me taking those stories and passing them on," Lydia says about the song, inspired by a visit with an elderly neighbor. "It relates to a lot of people. Everyone that hears it is touched by it." Connecting with people on a deeper level is what Lydia's music is all about. "You can really express how you feel, what's going on in your life, and sing praise and worship God — to express that joy in knowing him and getting that message out to other people," Lydia says. "It's really powerful." Stacy Smith Segovia is a features writer and can be reached by telephone at 245-0237 or by e-mail at stacysegovia@theleafchronicle.com.