This is from Ditmas Park Corner:

David Lindsay-Abaire Selected for First Horton Foote Writer’s Retreat

BY AVI ON MARCH 21, 2013 · 9:56 AM · ART & MUSIC, NEIGHBORS

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and Ditmas Park resident David Lindsay-Abaire was recently selected as the inaugural writer-in-residence for the first Horton Foote Writer’s Retreat, awarded by the Horton Foote Legacy Project. According to Playbill.com:

Each playwright will receive a four-week private residency in Foote’s preserved Texas home, where they will have the opportunity to write and reflect at the same desk Foote used to write his award-winning plays and films prior to his death in 2009. The Project’s aim is to provide six four-week residencies annually to established and emerging playwrights.

“I’m so grateful to the Foote family, and everyone involved with the Horton Foote Legacy Project, for this great gift of time, space and support to write without distraction,” added Lindsay-Abaire. “And to do it in the very house, in fact in the very room, where Horton wrote so many of his plays, is a privilege beyond words.”

Along with being an award-winning playwright, David is also ascreenwriter, recently penning Rise of the Guardians and Oz the Great and Powerful. Last year, local theater company Brave New World Repstaged a production of Thornton Wilder’s The Long Christmas Dinner at his Albermarle Road home.

The other playwright selected for the retreat was Annie Baker, who got her MFA from nearby Brooklyn College. Annie, whose critically acclaimed play, The Flick, just finished its premiere run at Playwrights Horizons, will attend the retreat in May.

Congratulations to both David and Annie!

Thank you all for a successful banquet!

We would like to extend a big thank you to our sponsors and all who attended the 94th Annual Chamber Banquet.  You were all part of making it a great success!

Chamber Mixer Open House

Please join us for a Chamber Mixer Open House hosted by The ARC of Wharton and Texana Center on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 from 4:30 to 6:30 PM.  This will be at the Texana Learning Center at 1017 1/2 Alabama Rd, Wharton.  For further information, call 979-532-5900.

March of Dimes Bake Sale

"Bankers Helping Babies" Bake Sale benefiting the March of Dimes will take place Thursday, March 28 at 8 AM at Prosperity Bank, 143 W Burleson, Wharton

Java Jam

Pat Gavin and the Bucakroos will be the featured guests this month at Java Jam on March 29th at 6 PM at Milam Street Coffee Shop Wall 2 Wall Words.

The calendar
Hope too you at the ribbon cutting! It's 4 p.m. Saturday at West End Market, 1125 N. Spanish Camp Road.

The following Saturday, March 23, is the Chocolate Walk, downtown Wharton. And this Thursday, March 21, of course, is the 94th Annual Wharton Chamber of Commerce Banquet. Call us for tables and tickets!

Quote of the week:
In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.
—Theodore Roosevelt

Goodie Bags
We were visiting with our friend,  Tod Mund at Mund Moving, and he gave us a piece of good news. He's moving more people into Wharton than out of Wharton. We like that.

Which gets us to the need for Newcomer Goodie Bags. Usually, we make them on a demand basis. But we've obviously need to make them by bulk. And, your business or organization can be included. This is a great way to promote your business or organization.

Here's how to do it. Drop off at the chamber, your:

Coupons.
Flyers.
Brochures.
And anything else that will promote your business or organization.

Two requirements: You must be a chamber member. And, avoid anything that is date sensitive.

The deadline is Friday, March 15.

And bring enough so we can use the materials to stock our display shelves here at the chamber office, 225 N. Richmond Road.

Time Change
Remember, Daylight Savings Time begins at 2 a.m. Saturday.

Business News
A Chamber Ribbon Cutting will be at West End Market, 1125 W. Spanish Camp Road, at 4 p.m. Saturday, March 16.

Milam Street Coffee now serves pies from JR's smokehouse.

And here is a press release on a new business opening in Wharton:

Wharton County is getting a new business, and kids are literally jumping for joy. Moonwalks-N-More, LLC, is Wharton County's newest bounce house rental place, renting outdoor slides, bounce houses and concession equipment since late last summer. Expanding on this idea, owners and Wharton residents Carolyn and Steve Wisnieski saw an opportunity to offer more to the kids of Wharton county.
Construction will soon begin on a permanent 11,400 sq. ft. indoor facility for Moonwalks-N-More at 1810 Stadium Road, across from Wharton Tiger Stadium in Wharton. Billed as a full-service, indoor kids entertainment facility, it will offer inflatable bounce houses, slides, laser tag, a toddler zone and even a zip line. The facility will also offer multiple private party rooms and full concessions. "We're excited to bring this type of indoor entertainment facility to Wharton county,” said Steve Wisnieski. "A lot of these activities aren't offered locally," added his wife, Carolyn." And we think the parents are going to love our extra little touches like the parents’ lounge and free WiFi."

Another exciting aspect of the new indoor facility will be the inclusion of The Homerun Zone. Currently located in East Bernard, owner Kyle Marik will be moving his successful business to Wharton. “I am ecstatic about opening the new Homerun Zone in Wharton and being part of this venture serving the children of Wharton and surrounding counties,” Marik says.

The Homerun Zone will offer the latest in instructional softball and baseball training, including trainers who are current and former college and professional players. It will also feature a 30' x 60' deck that will be available for parties, complete with flat screen TVs.

The Wisnieskis said they appreciate the support of the Mayor and City Manager ofWharton, Wharton City Council, WEDCO and First State Bank of Louise - Wharton Branch. "Without their help this project would not be a reality," Steve pointed out.

To contact The Homerun Zone about baseball or softball instruction you may visit www.thehomerunzone.com or contact Kyle Marik at batterup@thehomerunzone.com .Grand opening for the complex is slated for late May or early June of this year.

For questions regarding the new Indoor Moonwalk Facility or for Outdoor Rentals visit www.moonwalksnmore.com or you can contact Carolyn Wisnieski at 979-488-4784.

Parting Quote

The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime.

-Babe Ruth