A scheduling fiasco: Saturday is full of fun | Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Why do people schedule events on the same day as the Steeplechase at Callaway Gardens?

Don’t they know I have to work Steeplechase every year?

I mean, don’t they look at the calendar?

Steeplechase is always the first Saturday of November. Always.

The reason I’m complaining is because there are two other major events that I’d also like to attend, but can’t because I’ll be at Steeplechase.

The first is the annual Fun Match by the Columbus Kennel Club. The CKC used to do this the Saturday before Halloween in Lakebottom Park.

I went to it for several years, just to see all the dogs and say hello to the ones I’d met over the years.

A few years ago, the CKC moved the event across the river. Last year, it moved back to Columbus.

Maybe the same people don’t go to both events.

Wait! I’m supposed to be mad. A lot of us would go to both events, but can’t.

Saturday’s events include All-Breed, Obedience, Rally, AKC-sanctioned B-OB Match, all for pedigreed dogs. There are events for the mutts of the area as well.

It begins with registration at 10 a.m. on the grounds of North Highland Assembly of God Church, 7300 Whittlesey Road. It’s free for spectators.

Call Anita Rabidou at 706-587-5545 for more information.

The other is the Third annual Artists for Pasaquan 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at St. EOM’s Land of Pasaquan just outside Buena Vista. I know that the Friends of Pasaquan have their public tours the first Saturday of each month, but because it’s their third year, they should know that Steeplechase has been doing that event a lot longer.

There will be artists and craftsmen, all displaying and selling their work; bands, music and food. You may take a picnic basket. It’s also a good opportunity to wander around the grounds if you’ve never been there before.

The entertainers include Rick Edwards, Celeste Matthews, Gini Woolfolk and the Bibb City Ramblers.

The artists include Ned Berry, Tracey Brown, Eileen Desterno, Karen Charney, Ralph Frank, Richard Harper, Chisten Holloway, C.M. and Grace Kelly Laster and Ruby Elvis Rose, Shug and SilverFox, Miz Thang, Pam Waller and Ron and Floria Yancey.

Tickets are $5.

If you don’t make it to Pasaquan on Saturday, you’ll have to wait until spring when it opens again to the public.

For directions, call 229-649-9444.

A loss for the arts

I was in Japan last month when Harry Kruger died. Harry was a music professor in the Schwob School of Music and the conductor of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.

Harry was always smiling and was always kind to me.

He and his wife, Natalie, who played the flute and also taught in the Schwob School, loved to travel. Harry never failed to send me a postcard or a note from wherever they were.

The Columbus Community Orchestra’s Monday night concert will be dedicated to Harry’s memory. It’s at 7:30 p.m. in the Hardaway High School auditorium.

My heart goes out to Natalie and their daughters.

Art winners

While I was on vacation, Columbus Artists’ Guild held its annual Arts on the River.

The judge was Erin Dixon of the University of West Georgia.

She chose the winners:

Best of Show: Charles Willis, Columbus, watercolor

First Place: Arlaine Morrison, Suwanee, Ga., watercolor

Second Place: Maurice Cook: Birmingham, acrylic

Third Place: Derek McCrea, Columbus, oil and acrylic

Merit Awards: Len Jagoda, Waverly Hall and Ralph Taylor, Phenix City

Honorable Mention: Peter Dobson and Timmie Glover, both of Columbus

Congratulations to all the winners.