By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
If you’re looking to get out of the house, and enjoy the spring weather this weekend, the western end of Carter County is the place to be; starting with a pancake breakfast at the Olive Hill Masonic Lodge.
The Masonic Lodge, located at the end of Jordan Court, on the hill overlooking town, will open their doors at 8 a.m. for breakfast. For a cost of just $10 per plate, folks can enjoy their choice of bacon or sausage, along with pancakes, orange juice, and coffee. If you’re in a hurry, you can take your breakfast to go, or take your time and enjoy your fresh-from-the-griddle hotcakes in the Lodge’s dining hall. Money raised from the pancake breakfast, which is organized by the Olive Hill Masonic Lodge #629 Past Master’s Club, benefit the group’s scholarship fund, explained past master, and current lodge secretary, Jason Duvall.
“We use it for the scholarship fund, that we give away every year for seniors,” Duvall said, noting that one scholarship is offered for students pursuing a traditional academic track, while another is offered for students pursuing further education in the trades.
He said the pancake breakfast will also offer musicians and music lovers the opportunity to purchase a chance at a hand-built guitar from famed Carter County luthier Gary Cotten. Cotten, whose guitars are in high demand, particularly in the bluegrass world, has donated a pair of his custom creations – one to benefit the Lodge and one for the Shrine Club.
“He made a guitar for us to raffle off, and that money’s going to go also to our building project, but mainly the scholarship fund. It’s a hand built guitar by Gary Cotten. If most people know Gary… his guitars are very sought after, and he was kind enough to build us a guitar for the Lodge, and also he made us one for the Shrine Club, to be raffled off to support the Shriners Hospital in Lexington.”
Cotten’s custom made guitars regularly sell for up to $5,000 or more each. The Lodge and the Shrine Club will be selling 500 chances on each guitar, at $20 a chance. You can speak to Duvall, or any member of the Olive Hill Masonic Lodge or Carter County Shrine Club, for more information or to purchase a raffle ticket.
After filling up with a hearty breakfast, you’ve got a couple of different options for the rest of your morning.
If you’re planning to do any planting, or raise new livestock this spring, you might consider checking out Globe Farm Supply’s Trade Day. The event will feature a variety of animals for sale, as well as other vendors, all set up on site from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. This marks the third season they’ve held their Trade Day events, owner Jennifer Owens explained, adding that they plan to hold them once a month through the Spring and Summer months, adding that they “try to do the first weekend of every month” from April through September.
“People can pick up livestock of various sorts,” Owens said. “Anywhere from baby chicks, grown chickens, ducks, goats, pigs, even occasionally a cow.”
After picking up their new animals, they can pick up other supplies or feed in the shop.
“We usually run some sales on that day too, on that kind of stuff,” she said.
Or, if the guitar raffle at the pancake breakfast has you in a more musical mood, head up to the Olive Hill Center for Arts & Heritage for the first organizational meeting of the new Community String Orchestra. Elaine Brunelle, who has worked as a professional violinist playing with groups as diverse as Trans-Siberian Orchestra, the Moody Blues, and Kansas, among others, will be leading the new orchestra. They are seeking folks who play, or wish to learn, the violin, viola, cello, and bass. The all ages orchestra welcomes performers from age 9 through adult, and will meet on Saturday mornings from 10 – 11:30 a.m. Performers are responsible for obtaining their own instrument, though Brunelle can provide guidance on purchasing or obtaining a rental. For more information on the community orchestra, contact Brunelle at EStudioViolin@yahoo.com or by calling or texting (606)207-1480.
After getting set up with a new instrument, or working up an appetite loading up your new livestock, you can head over toward Haldeman, and the Haldeman / Haye’s Crossing Fire Department fish fry and auction. The fish fry and auction, which raises money for the fire department’s operation costs, begins at 3 p.m. with the auction kicking off at 5 p.m. The menu includes fried fish, cole slaw, baked beans, potato wedges, drink, and dessert for $12, with children five and younger served for free. The ladies auxiliary will be auctioning off a pair of diamond earrings and a gold and diamond necklace, while the fire department will be raffling off a Glock 9 mm and a 12 gauge shotgun, with the first draw taking their choice and the second draw receiving whichever gun is left.
For more information on the fish fry, auction, and raffle, contact the Haldeman / Haye’s Crossing Fire Department at (606)783-1445 or online at haldemanfire916@hotmail.com.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
