Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the news reached Kingsland – the city of Kingsland, Georgia, has been named Lovetown, USA. After a nationwide search, Oprah Winfrey Network and BBC Worldwide Productions have selected Kingsland, GA, to be the location for a new TV series. In the month of February, two expert matchmakers including the real-life “Hitch,” Paul Carrick Brunson, and Kailen Rosenberg, with more than 200 successful marriages to her name, will help eight singles embark on a journey to find true love.

From the local mayor to restaurateurs, bosses and even married couples, everyone in the town will be involved in the biggest social experiment in TV history. The new series, scheduled to premiere this summer, will film 8 episodes in Kingsland over a four week period beginning in mid-February.

If you would like to be a part of this ground-breaking experience, send your name, age, contact information and photos of yourself along with a brief story about why you are ready to fall in love to: LovetownUSA@gmail.com The casting deadline is right around the corner, so contact us today!!

LOVETOWN CASTING DEPARTMENT: (323) 785-4616

Also, visit Lovetown on Facebook.

By now, everyone has heard about Kingsland’s nomination to become “Love Town, USA” – and next week, it’s time for us residents to help out and make the group of visiting producers make “the right” decision and pick our town as location.

Competition

Next week the producers are going to scout the area and also interview potential candidates. It is said that about a dozen towns are in the competition right now but the exact number has not been revealed.  North Carolina has Fuquay, Clayton, Newton, Carborro and Reidsville. Other competitors include Culpeper, Va. The winner could be announced as early as January and filming starting in February.

Kingsland, GA, just received news that our area is one step closer to become the setting for the TV show, but now your help is needed to get passed all the other contestants and make it to the final round.

Join the Red Block Party

Casting producers from the show will visit Kingsland on Monday, November 28, 2011 and everyone is invited to attend the Lovetown Block Party on November 28th from 3:45PM – 6:00PM in downtown Kingsland. This is our chance to give a South-Georgia-style “Shout-Out” to the Oprah Winfrey Network. The Oprah Winfrey Network is teaming with BBC America Productions to create a show called “Love Town, USA” and Kingsland is in the running of becoming the location.

A network camera crew will be on-site to film our community block party and everyone is invited to meet with the OWN producers to tell them why you love our great community and why we should be chosen as “Love Town, USA”.

Please wear red!!Kingsland is asking residents to decorate homes, businesses, cars, EVERYTHING with red ribbons to demonstrate your support.

You can read more about the show here.

For those of you who want to find love and be on TV, this is a chance of a lifetime. The TV show Lovetown USA is having a casting call on Wednesday November 9, 2011, from 4 pm to 7 pm at Kingsland Visitors Center.  Everyone who is single is encouraged all   to come to Kingland Welcome Center and fill out the casting application. You will get your  picture taken and your application will be sent to the show.
To find out more about the show, read our previous post about Lovetown, USA – just click here.

Make sure to watch the video below to find out more.

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network is developing BBC Worldwide Productions “Lovetown, USA”,
an original unscripted TV project about mass matchmaking in an American town for a potential 2012 series show.
In the show, a group of expert matchmakers would set up operations for 30 days in a city of approximately 15,000 people, looking to pair up as many eligible singles as possible. Last week, the show’s casting began its search for the centerpiece town.
On Monday, Kingsland Mayor Kenneth Smith was contacted regarding an anonymous nomination for the City of Kingsland as the featured LoveTown location. The show’s casting team has given Kingsland a one week deadline for submission to the next level of the selection process. “We have one week to garner community support to demonstrate that we are willing to work together to host this opportunity,” stated Mayor Smith. The application states that the producers are “looking for an area with real community spirit” and that the selected town should be a “storybook, picturesque location and with a definite sense of community that can come together to help match the singles and bring a new found mutual love to the entire community”.

The Kingsland Convention & Visitors Bureau has been selected as the lead agency for communication with the television network. Tonya Rosado, CVB Executive Director, commented “Local economic impact from productions can be very significant, including hiring of local residents, hotel stays and purchases of goods and services. Plus there is a great tourism draw to your community after the project is released”. According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development, television productions bring substantial economic impact to the community through local employment, purchases of local goods, hotel stays, location fees, and other investments.
Every project generates word of mouth about your community’s cooperation and can lead to larger projects down the road.
Community Call to Action – Don’t Let Love Pass Us By!! We need community support by Friday, November 4th
to solidify this nomination. If you believe the Kingsland/Camden community is a great place to fall in love or if you would like to find the love of your life in your own backyard, send your name, age, contact information, and photos (of romantic places in the community) along with a brief story about why you and your town are ready to fall in love to: LoveTown@VisitKingsland.com

Kids are back in school and fall season is just about to start. The weather is still hot and humid, so in many way in Camden County it feels as if fall is still far away.

We hope you too had a long and relaxing Labor Day weekend and that you had an opportunity to visit the Kingsland Catfish festival. But now, it’s time to look ahead.

Here is what’s happening in our area for the remaining part of September.

Starry Nights with Michael Hulett

Howard Gilman Waterfront Park
Saturday, September 10, 2011
7:00 pm-9:00 pm

This is the final performance of the 2011 Starry Nights free concert series for the year. Enjoy the heartfelt soulful vocals and sax tunes of musician Michael Hulett who will be performing on stage. Michael Hulett offers a mix of classic and modern jazz, R&B, soul and rock/pop tunes. Bring a chair or a blanket, some snacks, and your friends to enjoy a relaxing evening on the river.

Don Quixote, played by Bill Raser, takes to his bed after a showdown with the Great Enchanter.

Man of La Mancha at the Theatre by the Trax

The Man of La Mancha is performed by St. Marys Little Theatre at the Theatre by the Trax (the old railroad building).

Friday, September 9 at 7 pm
Saturday, September 10 at 7 pm
Friday, September 16 at 7 pm
Saturday, September 17 at 7 pm – SOLD OUT
Sunday, September 18 at 2 pm – just a few tickets left
Theatre by the Trax, 1000 Osborne Road, St. Marys

Tickets are $12 each and can be purchased at St. Marys Welcome Center, 111 Osborne Street.

Read our previous post about the performance here.

Annual Ralph J. Bunche Classic

Edward Waters College vs. Virginia University of Lynchburg. Benefits firefighting organizations and the USO.
Read more about this football game here.

Pooch Plunge

Give your dog a special treat and a way to escape the heat and cool off. Come to St. Marys Aquatic Center for the Pooch Plunge — a day of fun for both dogs and owners. On Sunday, September 11 from 3:00-5:30 PM your dogs can come and play at the St. Marys Aquatic Center. Dogs who want to participate and play can’t be aggressive — we are sure the rule applies to owners as well. They also need to be kept on a leash, the dogs that is. Dogs are free – but owners pay $3.20, or vice versa. Why the odd admission fee? That mystery remains. Call 912-673-8118 for more information.

Wildcat Football – September 16

Wildcat Football vs. Windsor Forest at Chris Gilman Stadium, 7:30pm (Recreation Night)

St Marys Community Market

Sept 11, 18, 25

This market takes place at the waterfront in downtown St Marys on Saturdays from 9 am – 1 pm.  Find local produce, home made bread, arts and crafts items, flowers and much more.

Time to say goodbye to Summer and “hello” to Fall.  School is back in session, and the fall fashion is already on display in the clothing stores. But don’t worry, there is still plenty of hot and humid weather ahead of us, Summer is far from over.

Many of us are planning for a long and relaxing Labor Day weekend with friends and family. Maybe you’re planning a backyard barbecue or you might be looking to take a road trip.

Here are a few ideas for fun things to do in our area:

Kingsland Catfish Festival

As you know, this is one of the biggest and most crowded festivals in Camden County every year – and no wonder. This festival has it all from arts and crafts, to blooming onions, climbing walls, balloons, vintage cars and most importantly — the famous catfish dinner.

Click here to go to our special Kingsland Catfish Festival page where you can watch the video we made about the event.

St Marys Community Market

This market takes place in downtown St. Marys on the waterfront every Saturday. Read more here.

GOLDEN ISLES

If you are looking for a road trip, how about the Golden Isles area? Pack a nice picnic and load up your gang and take a trip north. One of our favorite places to visit is Jekyll Island with its vast, empty beaches. A great place to picnic is the shady St. Andrews Picnic Area at the south end of the island. But the Golden Isles area, especially St. Simons, is also known for its many restaurants. For Labor Day Weekend there are a couple of interesting events:

First Friday in downtown Brunswick

Downtown Promenade from 5 – 8. Take a stroll through our beautiful downtown district. Galleries and shops will be open and serving wine & snacks, with live music in the pocket parks.

Labor Day Invitational Arts & Craft Show – St. Simons Island, GA

This is the Annual Labor Day Weekend Invitational Arts & Crafts Show in Mallery Park (baseball fields in the village. The show takes place on September 3 & 4, 2011 from 10am to 5 pm both days. For more information call (912)262-0628.

SAVANNAH

Another of our favorite places on the coast to visit is Savannah. During Labor Day weekend the area has two great events on the schedule.

Savannah Craft Brew Fest

Want to learn more about beer and beer brewing, then the Savannah Craft and Brew Fest is the perfect event to hob nob with craft brewers and beer enthusiasts from all over the country. You can sample over 130 different kinds of beer at the grand tasting event – just make sure you have a designated driver!

Find out more about the Savannah Craft Brew Fest here.

Tybee Beach Bash

Tybee Island says goodbye to Summer with a big celebration with live music from our favorite beach party band — The Swingin’ Medallions. The day ends with fireworks. Read more about Labor Day Beach Bash — Tybee  here.

9^th Annual Ralph J. Bunche Classic to be played September 10, 2011

St. Marys, GA—On September 10, 2011, Tigers and Dragons will come head to head at Camden County High School’s Chris Gilman Stadium.

Jacksonville’s Edward Waters College (Tigers) and Virginia University of Lynchburg (Dragons) will vie for the winning title of the historic Ralph J. Bunche Classic. This year’s Classic pays tribute to firefighters and the military, recognizing their sacrifices and contributions throughout history. L. J. Williams, event chair, said that the theme of “America’s Heroes” is especially meaningful on two levels.

“On the eve of September 11, people all over our country will be thinking about that horrific day ten years ago when so many of America’s heroes lost their lives trying to save others,” Williams said. “At the same time, we’re giving thanks everyday to the brave firefighters who continue to battle the fires that have ravaged our area recently.”

Williams went on to say that by honoring military families, military vets and firefighters and their families, the Ralph J. Bunche Classic continues a legacy of giving back that began nine years ago.

Golf Tournament at Laurel Island Links

The highlight of the Ralph J. Bunche Classic is the football game slated for 3:00 pm on September 10, but numerous other events build up to the game. An appreciation lunch will be help on Friday, September 9, then a golf tournament at Laurel Island Links on the morning of the game.

Robert Cummings, Director of the Camden County Re-entry Program and one of the event organizers, said the Classic is expected to draw more than 200 firefighters and 500 military personnel and families as well as local and state law enforcement agencies.

“We invite the entire community to become involved and show their support of the great men and women of America who are the true heroes of our times,” Cummings said.

Get Your Tickets Early

The community can become involved through sponsorships and/or by purchasing tickets to Classic Events. General admission to the game is $10 in advance, $12 on game day and for children/students $5 in advance and $7 on game day. Family packages are also available, and groups of 20 are eligible for a discount.

A portion of the proceeds will go to firefighting organizations and the USO.

GAME SCHEDULE:

2:30 Parade of Flags

2:40 Heroes Honored

3:00 Kick-off

Half-time Salute to Heroes and performance by Edward Waters College Band and the renowned Purple Thunder.

Ralph J. Bunche Classic tickets can be purchased at the St. Marys Welcome Center, the Kingsland Welcome Center, Van Barber Shop in Kingsland, and on base at MWR.

Call 912-552-4494 for more information.

About Ralph J. Bunche

Ralph J. Bunche was an American political scientist anddiplomat who received the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize for his late 1940s mediation in Palestine. He was the first person of color to be so honored in the history of the Prize. He was involved in the formation and administration of the United Nations. In 1963, he received the Medal of Freedom from President John F. Kennedy. Bunche founded a trade school that later became an all-black high school in Camden County.

There is no reason to fear Friday the 13th. Actually, May 13, 2011, is the day when the Georgia Visitors Center celebrate travel and tourism with a special event called “Georgia on My Mind Day”. This special day is hosted by the Georgia Visitor Center located at I-95N @ Exit 1 include a variety of activites and fun. Come to the visitor center for live entertainment, cokes, hot dogs, popcorn, rock shrimp, crawfish etouffee, cookies, arts and craft demonstrations, drawings, giveaways, and exhibitions. The event begins at 11:00 AM and will last throughout the early afternoon. During the Georgia On My Mind Day rally, the City of Kingsland will be conducting the Annual Royal Arrest with a special appearance by the City’s Royal Mascot, Kingsley the Lion. Georgia On My Mind Days, sponsored by the Georgia Department of Economic Development, are celebrated around the state by the tourism industry and communities to increase the awareness and celebrate travel and tourism’s economic impact to Georgia. During these annual events, the community and tourism partners are able to showcase to area visitors the southern hospitality Georgia is known for.

Travel is a major contributor to our local economy and to mark this year’s National Travel & Tourism Week, the KCVB is joining hundreds of travel entities throughout the country in a rally to highlight travel’s significant contributions on the local and national economy and illustrate why travel matters in a vocal and visible way. The goal of this traditional campaign is to create a greater appreciation of travel and tourism’s impact on our local economy and the more than 10 million workers nationwide whose jobs depend on travel. Let’s shine a spotlight on this vital industry and its benefits to our community.

“Tourism is a powerful jobs and economic development generator in almost every community in Georgia, ” said Kevin Langston, Deputy Commissioner for Tourism for the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “National Tourism Week is great opportunity to draw attention to the importance of the tourism industry to both visitors and Georgians.”

As part of the National Travel & Tourism Week celebration, the Kingsland CVB will host a grassroots awareness campaign to communicate the positive impact the travel sector has on residents of our community. In Camden County, travel is a significant sector of our economy generating $73.25 million in direct visitor expenditures while creating $2.26 million in local tax revenues. On a state level, travel generated $34.8 billion in total economic impact (direct, indirect and induced), $19 billion spent direct by visitors and this spending generated $850.6 million in state tax revenue benefiting every Georgia household $518 in state and local tax savings.

The City of Kingsland Police Department will host the 3rd Annual Easter Egg Hunt in the Kingsland City Park. Bring your children, a bag or basket and don’t forget the camera! This event is sponsored by local businesses and there is no cost to you! For more information, contact Todd Tetterton with the Kingsland Police Department at 912-729-8257 or ttetterton@kingslandgeorgia.com.
Saturday, April 2, 2011, 10am – 11am

Celebrate the holidays in style in Camden County.

White Lighting in St. Marys
Come to downtown historic St. Marys on November 30, 2010, for the annual lighting of the Christmas Tree.  Read more about the event here – White Lighting in St Marys

Kingsland Christmas Tree Lighting & Open House
Get into the holiday spirit in Kingsland during this popular annual event on December 2, 2010.   Read more about it here – Kingsland Christmas Tree Lighting & Open House

Jingle Bell Jog – St Marys
There will be a Jingle Bell Jog, 5K Walk/Run on December 4, 2010. The day will start at 8 AM with a Pancake Breakfast in the Charles Gilman Waterfront Park for $5.00. Registration for the Walk/Run will be from 8:30 to 9:15 AM with the race starting at 9:30 AM. Registration will take place at the Waterfront Park / Boat Ramp area.  5K Runners will compete for age group awards Overall Male, Overall Female and Top 3 male and female in age categories. Walkers will be competing for a grand prize for the best costume in keeping with our theme. Applications available  www.smkiwanis.com. For more information contact Jeremy Jacobs at Jeremy.Jacobs@amerisbank.com or 912-882-3400, or James Sattler at csattler@tds.net or 912-441-0632.

Christmas Tour of Homes & Open House – Woodbine
On December 4, 2010, come to  Woodbine for the Christmas Tour of Homes followed by Christmas Parade, and Santa himself will show up too.  Read more about Christmas Tour of Homes & Open House here.

Christmas in the Park – St Marys
Lots of fun for both young and old at the Waterfront Park on December 4, 2010,  with games and holiday characters (like The Grinch).
Christmas in the Park – St Marys, GA

Woodbine Community Christmas Celebration – Woodbine
Historic and charming Woodbine is the setting for the Woodbine Community Christmas Celebration hosted by the Woodbine Steering Committee at the Woodbine United Methodist Church located at the corner of Bedell Avenue (U.S. 17) and East 4th Street. This  celebration  features a community choir, hand bells and a Christmas story. For more information call 912-576-3211.

Candlelight Tour of Homes – St Marys
Come visit St. Marys during the holiday and see some of the beautiful historic homes, Bed and Breakfast Inns and other venues during the Christmas Tour of Homes on December 11, 2010. Read more here – Candlelight Tour of Homes

Live Nativity – St Marys
Come visit Orange Hall for this popular annual event on December 16, 2010. Read more and watch our video here about The Live Nativity – St Marys