GRAVETTE -- About 250 guests turned out last Thursday night for the third annual Greater Gravette Chamber of Commerce community banquet. Held at Horton Farms on Bethlehem Road, the banquet featured a Mardi Gras theme. Wall hangings and table decorations reflected the theme with candles, flashing lights, feathers, beads and balloons in the traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold. Many of the guests donned masks and beads to enhance the mood and "let the good times roll."
Early in the evening, guests enjoyed a social hour of visiting, networking and looking over the many door prizes donated by area businesses and individuals. Entries were placed in fruit jars beside the entrants' choice of prizes. A drawing was held and lucky winners were announced at the end of the evening. Core Brewery of Springdale provided a choice of beers for guests to sample.
A highlight of the evening was the announcement of Patti Bertschy as Citizen of the Year and Fire Station 29 Pub and Grill as Business of the Year. Bertschy is a member of the Gravette historical museum commission and is very active in planning the annual Hiwasse Day each year. She retired last year from Gravette Public Schools after 30 years as high school secretary. Fire Station 29, owned by former mayor Byron Warren and his wife Tracy, opened last June on Main Street in Gravette with a ribbon cutting July 4. Bertschy and the Warrens were presented plaques in appreciation for their many contributions to the city by chamber president Jodi Moore.
Moore addressed the guests and thanked them for attending, noting that the numbers have grown each year. She praised the local citizens for their spirit of cooperation and willingness to work together to complete needed projects. She noted the friendly hometown spirit, the good schools and churches and the progressive businesses which influenced her decision to locate her dance studio here. She introduced all the chamber officers, thanking them and all who helped make the banquet a success.
Kurt Maddox, Gravette mayor, also gave a brief talk. He spoke encouragingly about the three businesses which are interested in coming to Gravette and reminded guests of the upcoming election March 1 when citizens can vote to fund improvements in sidewalks, streets, parks and sewer upgrades. Display boards set up around the banquet hall showed architects' drawings of the proposed improvements.
The banquet was catered by Steven Martinez and his crew from Hardluck Cafe. Prior to the meal, diners were treated to appetizers of smoked sausage, cheddar cheese cubes, fresh fruit, mini muffulettas and crawfish. Seated at tables of eight, they enjoyed entrees of grilled chicken with Mardi Gras succotash, chicken and sausage gumbo served over rice, jambalaya pasta and shrimp Creole. These were accompanied by a mixed green and veggie salad and followed up with an assortment of desserts. Dessert choices, provided by Copeland's of New Orleans, included kings cake, white chocolate bread pudding and a variety of cheesecakes.
General News on 02/17/2016