Insider's Buzz:
-Darlington starts the new school year
today (Monday) with the ribbon cutting of its new $21 million middle school (see photo to the right) ... Berry College on Friday gave a sneak peak of the twin student residences premiering this fall. Both have dazzling features including our favorites: lodge-like community rooms, with fire places, and an open-air courtyard as well (see image below) ... Look for updates soon on the opening ceremonies for the 40,000-square-foot addition to Booth Western Art Museum in October. The Booth is growing by half its current size. Filling the new space: contemporary-style Western art, an expanded Civil War Gallery, a two-story sculpture court and 100-plus Native American artifacts ... You'll be seeing some fashion tips soon on what to wear to the massive, record-setting toga party being sponsored as part of Rome's 175th Anniversary party on Saturday, Sept. 5. Look for news of a pre-event fashion show soon--and some toga design tips, too ... Here's a disturbing stat we just realized. There are only 11 home games left in the 2009 Rome Braves' season. The team returns to State Mutual Stadium on Wednesday and wraps up the home stand on Aug. 24. Then it's on the road again and then home for the final series, Aug. 31-Sept. 4. The Braves end the season on the road in Augusta Sept. 7.
Big month for RACA with after hours, new Web home
August is sizing up to be a huge month for the Rome Area Council for the Arts--and the rest of the year looks pretty busy as well.
-No. 1: RACA's Web site has had a significant update (click www.romearts.org). An expanded events listing, consignment and gallery updates, information on upcoming classes and more highlight the new design. The work was done by Kim Vasil.
-No. 2: RACA and other arts groups are teaming up for the annual August arts-themed Business After Hours with the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce. 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday. Sponsored by Berry College Department of Fine Arts, Georgia Highlands College Division of Social & Cultural Studies, Rome International Film Festival, Rome Little Theatre, Rome Symphony Orchestra and Shorter College School of the Arts.
You can register by clicking Chamber.
-No. 3: RACA is sponsoring a golf tournament on Friday, Sept. 18> Details
-No. 4: RACA's second annual Rome Beer Festival is Saturday, Sept. 19, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Heritage Park> Details
-No. 5: The annual membership drive is under way. How to join
High School & College football updates:
John McClellan's high school picks and previews return this week:
>One of our most popular features from last year's high school football season returns this week. John McClellan, one of the region's most avid fans and Rome Wolves' PA announcer, starts his second season with Hometown, picking some of the early games including Unity Christian's debut in varsity football.
-John picked 211 of 263 games correctly last season (including playoffs) for a winning percentage of 80.2. Look for his column this week on our Football page.
>Norman Arey's college football preview columns continue: We hope you're also enjoying Norman Arey's 20-part preview of the 2009 college football season. The series continues through Thursday, Sept. 3, followed by the opening round of Norman's No-No's on Friday, Sept. 4. What are No-Nos? Norman's locks of the weekend to lose. His 2008 season average: 72 percent. Click Arey
Cooking with class: Mary Louise Lever's award-winning passion
By Natalie Simms
natsimms76@gmail.com
At a time when the popularity of TV's Food Network is soaring, home cooks are finding new inspiration in the kitchen. Rome is home to one famous local chef whose recipes rival those on Food Network. Mary Louise Lever has been cooking up award-winning recipes for decades and has no plans to hang up her apron anytime soon.
"My kitchen is like a playground for me, it's where I have fun," Lever says. "And until I stop having fun, I won't be hanging up my apron."
Lever has won more than 150 national recipe contests since she began competing in 1987. Her latest competition is the Summer Salad Recipe Contest with President Feta Cheese (click).
She caught the "contest bug" after seeing her mother compete in the National Catfish Cooking Contest in New Orleans.
"That really piqued my interest in the '70s but I didn't get back into it until 1987 when my recipe was selected to go toa national cook-off in New Orleans," she says. "I then met a lot of friends who introduced me to other recipe contests…we call ourselves 'foodies'."
Lever's passion for cooking really stems from her passion for travelling. When she got married in the late 1960s, her husband took her on a three-month honeymoon around the world.
"That (honeymoon) really started it because I just loved all the cuisines from around the world," she says. "I have a fascination with local markets. It's a great place to go and see what people eat and learn about their culture….it gives me a greater understanding."
Her winnings from several cooking contests have also given her the opportunity to travel and cook at some prestigious culinary institutions, including Tuscany and Madrid.
This is just one of Mary Louise Lever's creations, Low Country Pecan Chicken. She tries to put a little 'southern' in many of her recipes, including pecans and Vidalia onions.
You'll find some of her favorites by clicking Recipes.
"I have also won lots of money over the years, lots of kitchen equipment and appliances," she says. "A lot of people say I'm lucky but I just say I'm fortunate. It really is a lot more work than you might think."
Lever says she is always cooking up something new and trying out her creations with friends and neighbors. "I always take practice things for them to try. I spread the goodness around for them all to enjoy," she says.
"A recipe is just a pattern. You can adjust the formula to your requirements and add your own touches and make it yours," she adds. "I usually always add a little bit of southern to my recipes like pecans or Vidalia onions."
Her cooking journeys have introduced her to several famous celebrities including chefs Julia Child, Bobby Flay, Emeril Lagasse and Nathalie Dupree. The Today show's Willard Scott came to Rome to do a video shoot with Lever for the National Poultry Association. And after winning the "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" contest, she spent two days with Fabio doing a media blitz with Atlanta TV stations.
"Many of the people you see in contests on Food TV are friends of mine," she says.
"There are really all types of people from doctors and attorneys to homemakers who compete. It just amazes me that I am still in the race. It really elevates and challenges me to be more creative."
Aside from cooking, Lever also volunteers her time with the Georgia Highlands Foundation. She served as the chair of the previous Floyd College Foundation for 13 years.
"I really have a passion for education," she says. "It is really a selfish reason because it makes for better surroundings when people are educated."
Lever says "travel, food and friends" really sum up her life, something she appreciates daily.
"We all have a story to share," she says. "And you can always talk about food…it's a universal language."
>A link to Mary Louise Lever's favorite recipes> Click
>Vote for her latest salad creation> Vote
PEAKS & VALLEYS: Highs and lows of Northwest Georgia
Peak to the 500-plus attending Gingrey's healthcare town hall meeting:
We expected to see maybe 100 people tops at Thursday's town hall meeting on healthcare reform hosted by U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey. We also assumed it would be mostly rhetoric on what's wrong with the Obama plan. Instead, more than 500 people packed the over-capacity Rome Civic Center on a sweltering August afternoon to let Gingrey and staff know about their continuing concerns about healthcare availability, costs and related insurance nightmares. We've been to the civic center for pancakes and barbecues and lackluster political "debates." This was something far, far different. Many seniors, 70 and above, stood for 90 to 120 minutes to hear Gingrey's presentation and to listen to each others' statements and questions. Talk about grassroots interest. Next town hall: 2 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, commissioners meeting room, Georgia State Patrol, Cedartown.
Peak to the Rome Braves for going eight out of nine:
![[IMG_4247_edited-1-727773.jpg]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vDr7grxyrnEMypop089Wi-8NSfHhSP0as8AIhs7OU_gg-K9bQsLkyqH4hsO_OVrzu6XbQX83jBvURkUS8D6c9SAY1jwf7KT13SP-Fj9r7KQx-B2LRKOwJpQA1rbl5bpAAwk8-Gpb3ZFL9ZH8p-KXt8zNQPow=s0-d)
Photo by Mills Fitzner/For more on the Braves' game, click Gallery
Braves' catcher Braeden Schlehuber steals second during the Aug. 8 win over Savannah.
As stated earlier, the Rome Braves' season is quickly coming to an end. But thanks to eight wins in nine games, there's a chance the season could go a bit longer into the South Atlantic League playoffs. It is a long shot, for sure, as Rome is 7.5 games out with 21 games to go. But to put up seven straight wins in torrid August conditions? We think there's some gas left in the tank.
![[Image of 3-day forecast and coastal areas under a warning or a watch]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tr3ha54j9n7kAjed8aEdVkGZAKIUOxHjuFitoSm5daJa6QtV-QwPgfbOc_E1AxpZ2Vxtm3gVJZL3lUd0hV-alAG-zEVXE_tiu4DNo7uhnogSWx8_8nUVV4Par3iA=s0-d)
-The state perspective: Most of the initial claims were filed by laid-off workers in manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, construction, and administrative and support services. "The July jobless claims report presents a classic good news/bad news scenario," said State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond. "Fewer Georgians are being laid off, but a rising number of laid-off workers are remaining unemployed for longer periods of time."
Sept. 12/Third Annual Pink ride set: Donations are sought for the Third Annual Pink Ride, a trail ride to help funds to help cure the cancers that target women. The first ride raised more than $8,000; last year, the total was $13,000 and this year's goal is $20,000. Riders will cross through Berry College's wildlife preserve, departing from the Western Rome Saddle Club. Click 
D Morgan's, even in closing, does it with style: A walk down Cartersville's Main Street on Saturday was a little distressing. First was the "obituary" in the front window outside 
And some good news from downtown Cartersville:
Twitter followers have a new source to follow:
Peak to John Smoltz: His comeback attempted with the
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