FRONT PAGE!!! Apopka Chief April 20, 2007 (article) by Amy Sellers on AuthorsDen

Amy Sellers and Les Brown will be among the speakers on Sunday, April 29, at Kit Land Nelson Park. Entertainment list grows for festival By Chris Gauthier Apopka Chief Staff As the 46th annual Apopka Art and Foliage Festival draws nearer, the list of celebrities who will appear at the BAAM Blast, part of the entertainment schedule for the festival, grows longer. The festival will take place Saturday, April 28, and Sunday April 29, in Kit Land Nelson Park on Park Avenue between First and Orange streets in Apopka. The BAAM Blast (Books, Autism, Advocacay, and Motivation) will be held Sunday, April 29, from 1-4p.m. The program will focus on autism and cancer advocacy with noted motivational speaker, television and radio personaltiy Les Brown, who has become the new celebrity face for autism, said Apopkan Amy Sellers, founder of the Out of the Rain Society, Inc., which is dedicated to raising money for autism research. Another speaker, Vernice Armour, the first black femaile combat pilot in U.S. military history and veteran of two combat tours in Iraq, has also committed to the event. Others appearing in the BAAM Blast are John Garica of Texas, cancer survivor, motivational speaker; Elaine Garcia of Texas, singer/entertainer, releasing new album featuring "Out of the Rain" song; Susie Gallucci of Rhode Island, Olympic athelete, former Marine; and sellers of Apopka, author of Hurray for Rhyme it's Story Time. On the art and foliage side, more than 160 artists and crafters will display and sell their work during the two-day festival. Several catagories, including paintings, graphics, photography, sculpture, pottery, fine arts, jewelry and handcrafts, will be represented. During the festival, artists will submit their works to judges to be evaluated for prizes. Those interested in foliage will find plenty of it. Eighteen vendors will be selling everything from bromeliads to herbs, even some earthworm tea. Two fo the Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association's plants of the year will be available from Ray Green. For the convenience of festival patrons, a plant-sitting area will be located near the foliage booths. For a small fee, shoppers cna leave thier plant purchases there while they browse the rest of the festival. Touring the festival can bring on an appetite and there are plenty of concessions to satisfy the cravings. Apopka little League will sell hotdogs while the Apopka High School baseball team will handle the hamburgers. Boy Scout Troup 766's menue includes chicken wraps, corn, fries, nachos and chees. To satisfy the sweet tooth, there will be funnel cakes, fried Twinkies, fruit smoothies, homemade ice cream and Italian ice. Kettle Korn and cinnamon roasted nuts are also offered. There are plenty of activities for chldren. The kids can build a simple project at the Home Depot booth, be fingerprinted by Apopka Police Academy Alumni, and look over police and firefighter equipment. They can also be creative at the kids' art area. The school art area is another popular feature of the Art and Foliage Festival. Each child submitting artwork in the elementary school division will receive participation ribbons while winning midddle school artists will receive awards of merit. At the high school level, first, second, third and horoable mention awards will be awarded in each category. Paid parking for the festival is at Edwards Field off Forest Avenue behind Kit Land Nelson Park. All proceeds from the festival will go to the Apopka Women's Club, which donates money to various scholarship programs and other community needs.
Web Site	www.AmySellers.com
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