Buzzzzzzzzz . . . . buzzzzzzz . . . . What in the Sam Hill is makin’ all that buzzin’ racket? I flat can’t think straight! OOOOOuch! That honeybee smack stung me on my  . . . nose! Ding dang! I sure ain’t never won no beauty contest but now I’m even worse off ‘cause my nose looks smack like one of Momma’s haphazard jumbo biscuits! Good Lord Have Mercy! Momma! Why in the Sam Hill are you wearin’ that beekeeper outfit? And why are you tellin’ me to cool it ‘cause I’m stressin’ out the honeybees? What do you mean . . .Oh. My. Ever. Livin’. GOSH! Take cover ‘cause here comes a swarm of buzzin’ bees and they’re flat mad as hornets! Shoot Fire! Now they’re headin’ up towards downtown Madison! Watch out!
    That’s right y’all!  MadisonFest – EquiFest is just around the corner on April 30! And, to promote the event, Madison Main Street is sponsorin’ “What’s the Buzz?” For some reason I really, really like the ring of that! Ok so here’s the deal: Participatin’ businesses in downtown Madison will put a bee somewhere in their storefront window or outside of their shop and you’ll be tasked with findin’ all the ding dang bees! Clues will be placed in the Citizen and in the City of Madison newsletter! Keep readin’ the Citizen, find the bees and you’ll win a gi-normous prize! More about that later!
    Hey! Did some fool mention prizes? Yes! Ding dang! Y’all sure do like to Shop Local! Gwen Gibbs of Covington, who spent $25 or more at Barkin’ Dogs Shoe Co. on March 25, was the winner of the $100 prize in Madison Downtown Dollars! We flat pulled her name out of the pot of 91 total receipts! Congrats Gwen! The best part is that we added up all those receipts of $25 or more that were actually turned into the Citizen and they totaled a whoppin’ $9,543.24! Now that’s what I’m talkin’ ‘bout! We’re gonna do another Shop Local campaign in June! Stay tuned for more details!
    And, this is a prize The Buzz really wanted but Madisonian Linda Thoman got it! Dang it, dang it, dang it! I wanted that prize for me, me, me! I’m talkin’ ‘bout the Madison Artists Guild’s raffle of paintings, prints, ceramic art and more by our local artists, includin’ a fab  wooden outdoor swing from Artisan Alley . . . a prize package worth $900! Ok so the drawin’ was held the other day at Artisan Alley with a fantastic reception! Artist Guild member Karen Strelecki picked Linda out of the raffle tickets and called her up on the phone! Now Linda’s gonna be swingin’ in that swing and enjoyin’ all that great art!
    Ding dang! It’s time to head to Rutledge! All kinds of parties are happenin’ in this “Small but Special” town on Friday, April 15! The Rutledge Frame Shop is hostin’ it's Spring Open House from 5 p.m to 9 p.m., with local artist Shannon Wright! Oh and they’ve expanded  with a new gallery venue so y’all be there to check it all out! Blue Grass music starts in the park around 6ish p.m! But that ain’t all y’all! Molly and Ed from the Red Doors Studio and the Caboose are hostin’ the "Friends of Rutledge" down home soiree from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. And, watch out cause there’ll be dancin’ after 8 p.m.! Honey Momma is flat gonna love this! Oh and the fabulous Yesterday's Cafe is hostin’ a special "Couples Dinner" for two.  Yum! Heck! Even Dr.  Mike 's Wellness Clinic and Live Well Spa and Salon are hostin’ open house events! We’re just gonna be open house hoppin’ all over Rutledge! Can’t wait!
    That’s it for the Buzz on Biz this week! Y’all be extra sweet to Momma and PawPaw! Shop local, advertise local and read local! I’ll see all y’all next week: Same time. Same Number One Weekly Newspaper in the Great State of Georgia!

Printed in the April 14, 2011 edition