(Paris, TN) The Downtown Paris Association (DPA) hosts Holiday Open Houses in downtown Paris this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 5,6, and 7. "This is the first event of Downtown Unwrapped - 2010, a festive slate of activities that runs from early November until the last package is wrapped on Christmas Eve," said DPA President Mike Key.

"We traditionally begin the holiday season with three days of open houses that combine the wonderful sights, sounds, foods and aromas of the holiday season," said Key, who emphasized that open house specials abound in more than a dozen stores this weekend. "There also are activities at two of our nearby churches.

"There's no better place for holiday shopping than in downtown Paris. It's a lovely, leisurely place to browse, with personal service and helpful perks, including gift-wrapping and delivery. Downtown offers everything from flowers to furniture, home decor to delectable lunches, clothing to coffee and antiques to HD TVs. Downtown merchants also offer gift certificates for items ranging from manicures to diamond rings," said Key.

The festivities begin Friday morning with First Presbyterian Church's French Bazaar where delicious food and craft items can be purchased from 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. That evening, shoppers can browse through downtown's jolly stores from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. The moving Love Lights a Tree ceremony takes place on the Court House lawn at 6:00 p.m. followed by the Inman School Band's holiday tunes and bake sale at 6:30 p.m. Downtown visitors can enjoy wagon rides throughout the evening.

On Saturday, Candlelight Open House festivities run from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. with musicians entertaining at selected stores. Downtown's many shops will be open throughout the day. On Sunday from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m., shoppers can continue to enjoy Christmas Open Houses at stores throughout Downtown Paris. They can take free wagon rides and hear the Henry County High School Madrigals and selected musicians performing in various shops. The open house weekend schedule is as follows:

Friday, November 5th
° First Presbyterian Church French Bazaar, 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the church.
° Candlelight Open Houses in downtown shops from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
° Love Lights a Tree – 6:00 p.m. on the Courthouse Lawn
° Free wagon rides throughout evening.
° Inman School Band – music and bake sale at 6:30 p.m. on the Courthouse Lawn

Saturday, November 6th
° Candlelight Open Houses in downtown shops from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
° Free wagon rides throughout evening.
° Musicians entertain at various shops.

Sunday afternoon, November 7th
° Afternoon Open House in downtown shops from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
° Madrigals – strolling from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. singing holiday favorites
° Musicians entertain at various shops
° Free wagon rides from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

A host of other holiday activities are coming up as part of Downtown Unwrapped 2010, according to Key. Many are sponsored or co-sponsored by the DPA; others are hosted by organizations that appreciate the lovely, Victorian backdrop of downtown Paris for their events. Most events are free.

Downtown Unwrapped 2010 includes:

° 10,000 Villages at First United Methodist Church
November 12 – 14 – This three-day sale of handicrafts from third world countries offers fair income to artists of many nations. Shop November 12 from 4:00 – 8:00 pm; November 13 from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm and November 14 from noon until 5:00 pm.

° Sketch Crawl around Court Square
November 13 – Join beginners and pros for a "Sketch Crawl" on the Court Square from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Drawings will be photographed for possible use by the DPA or the media. Artists may choose whether to have their name associated with their work. A Dutch treat lunch is optional. In case of rain, the group will draw under awnings. Any media is fine: pencil, watercolor, pastel, charcoal, pen and ink, etc. The idea is to have fun and move around to a different side every half hour. Call Joe Snow at 731-707-4220

° Athena Delphian Club Holiday Bake Sale
November 19 – These baked goods are as beautifully decorated as they are tasty. The sale opens at 8:00 a.m. until sold out on the west side of the Court Square. Rain location is in front of the old J.C. Penny's building across the street from Jack Jones Flowers.

° North Pole Family Fun Day
November 26, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Make crafts, hear stories, snack on goodies, ride a miniature train, pet live animals, enjoy live music and see Santa arrive on the big, red fire engine; visit with him and his elves. Call 731-642-9271 for information or log on www.VisitDowntownParis.com.

° Christmas Bazaar at Lee Academy for the Arts
November 26, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m - This show-stopping bazaar is just four blocks away (Lee Street) from North Pole Family Fun Day. A must for art lovers, it is sponsored by the Tennessee River Fine Arts League. It features the best in local art including painting, pottery, jewelry, fiber arts and more. View a sample of these artists' work online at River of Art Gallery at MyParisMagazine.com.

° Saturday Mini-Concert Series
November 27 through December 18 - Guest musicians put a little live holiday music in your weekend at Leach's Music on E. Washington Street from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Call 731-642-9271 for information or log on www.VisitDowntownParis.com.

° Trees on the Square
November 30 – December 19 – The Paris-Henry County Heritage Center is the new home for this popular event that features rooms full of gorgeous trees of the season. The center is located at 614 North Poplar Street. Viewing hours are Tuesday through Friday, noon till 6:00 p.m.; Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. and Sundays from 1- 5:00 p.m. Call 642-1030 for information.

° Visit with Santa, Rudolph and the Elves
Santa's waiting to visit with the little ones in his cool gingerbread house on the square each Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. and Sundays from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. till Christmas. Call 731-642-9271 for information or log on www.VisitDowntownParis.com.

° Advent Walk
December 1, 6:30 p.m. – Hear the Christmas message in the beautifully decorated churches of downtown and process by candlelight through the historic downtown area. The walk begins at 6:30 p.m. at First Christian Church on South Poplar Street. A van is available. Call 642-2962 for information.

° Community Christmas Concert
December 5, 3:00 p.m. – Director Amy Martin leads local choirs and musicians in glorious Christmas music. This free performance includes Celebration Hand Bell Choir, Veazey's Vocals, community vocalists and instrumentalists. Sponsored by the Paris-Henry County Arts Council, the free concert is at First United Methodist Church. Call 731-642-3955 or log on www.phcarts.com for information.

° Christmas Parade
December 10, 6:00 p.m. – Join the Paris-Henry County Jaycees for a holly, jolly Christmas parade in festively decorated downtown Paris. Call 731-642-5925 or 731-431-4669 for information or log on www.WorldsBiggestFishFry.com.

° Santa's Last Blast
December 17, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. – Don't miss one of the last opportunities to see Santa blast in on the big, red fire engine. Make crafts, hear stories and visit with Santa one more time before he heads north! Call 731-642-9271 for information or log on www.VisitDowntownParis.com.

° Christmas Eve Services
December 24 – A variety of Christmas Eve services are offered by Downtown churches from mid-afternoon through midnight to welcome the Christ child into the world. Come join one of these moving services.

For more information, contact DPA President Mike Key at (731) 642-9271 or log on www.VisitDowntownParis.com

Downtown Paris, TN Christmas Open Houses, November 5-7 kick off Downtown Unwrapped 2010 - 53 Family Events, 30 Fun Shops, Memories and Gifts for a Lifetime. For more information log on VisitDowntownParis.com or call 731-642-9271.

Win at Story Slam, hosted by the Kentucky Storytelling Association at Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park, as part of the 7th annual Kentucky Storytelling Conference. Story Slam happens Friday, November 12 from 10 - 11:30 p.m. Anyone may enter. Contestants must tell (no notes or reading allowed) a story in under five minutes. Judges assign a score to each tale. Tied scores are broken by a 3-minute, and then a 1-minute round, as needed.

Earlier in the evening, everyone is invited to participate in open mike storytelling from 8 to 9:30 p.m. There’s no judging at open mike, but there is a 10 –minute time limit. A Friday night admission fee of $5 per person or $10 per family provides entry to both Friday night open mike and the Story Slam.

An evening of open mike storytelling is also available on Saturday night from 8 – 10 p.m. Admission $5 per person or $10 per family.

People wanting to learn more about the art of storytelling will want to attend the complete Kentucky Storytelling Conference. Friday evening events, plus workshops and more open mikes during the day on Saturday, followed by the Saturday evening open mike are all included in the full conference registration fee of $50 for individuals or $120 for families of three or more. (Purchase before October 30 to receive discounted registration of $30 individual or $75 family of three or more.) Register online at kystory.org or by mail to KSA, P O Box 4148, Frankfort, KY 40604-4148.

Both open mike evenings include a special performance by Octavia Sexton, the featured conference storyteller. Octavia Sexton grew up in the Appalachian tradition and of storytelling and her stories are rooted in the fascinating history of her family. Her English/Irish ancestors migrated to Kentucky from Europe bringing their stories with them. Her maternal and paternal great grandmothers were Cherokee storytellers from North Carolina. Octavia reflects the melding of these culturally different oral traditions. She shares the legends, tales and superstitions from her distinctive oral heritage in a delightfully exuberant performance. Her natural dialect transports the listener into the mountains of Kentucky where haints 'ghosts' chill your blood, Jack tickles your funny bone, and the hills and hollers are full of surprises.

With a degree in history and English education and years of teaching and writing experience, Octavia has the tools to present and teach an appreciation for Kentucky heritage as well as for individual stories. She has performed across the nation and presented educational art programs to thousands of learners. Her performance venues include hundreds of schools and festivals – as well as television and radio programs.

Octavia Sexton will also present the workshop "Creating Your Own Jack tale in 10 Easy Steps" Covering literary, performance and technical elements, participants will create a Jack Tale. All will leave with a workable story.

Henry County GreenFest 2010 held in Downtown Paris in October recently announced its Art, Recycling and Video Contest winners.

To compete in the Art Contest, students created an original work of art using all recycled materials. First place was awarded a $30 gift card. Second place was awarded a $20 gift card.

The winners of the Art Contest were: for grades K-2, Joni Roddy from Henry School won first place and Harrelson Kid’s Corner won second place; for grades 3-5, Alyvia Taylor from Lakewood won first place and Hannah Hudson from Harrelson won second place; for grades 6-8, Hunter Shaw from Henry School won first place. Second place was not awarded. For grades 9-12, Shelby Morton from Grove won first place and Drake Walker from Grove won second place.

A recycling contest between local schools was conducted with each participating school receiving three, 65-gallon recycling containers. The winners collected the most plastic and aluminum for recycling. Grove School won the contest with 200 pounds of plastic and 60 pounds of aluminum, which totaled 0.76 lbs collected per student. Grove received a $100 gift card. Henry School was the second place winner with a total of 147 pounds or 0.37 pounds collected per student.

PARIS! magazine, MyParisMagazine.com, the Paris-Henry County Chamber of Commerce and actress Cherry Jones were proud sponsors of a video contest celebrating GreenFest 2010. Entries educated viewers on the many ways to live a greener lifestyle. The winner of the $300 prize was R.E.A.L. Hope Youth Center. Their award-winning work can be viewed online at MyParisMagazine.com and at ParisTnChamber.com.

Door prize winners were: Clifty Farm ham, donated by Lakeway IGA: Amanda Allen; Month of Mixed Martial Arts classes donated by Dragon Tiger Training Academy: Angie Pennington; Month of Martial Arts classes for ages 13-17 donated by Dragon Tiger Training Academy: Anne Williams; Compost bucket and bag of birdseed donated by Lakeway Building Supply: Kelli Zwayer; Basket of Dotta Sue cookies donated by Dotta Sue’s Bake Shop: Pam Harrington; Aaron’s baseball cap donated by Aaron’s: Mandy McDevitt.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki has announced a $22.9 million construction contract to develop another section of Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Ill. for local Veterans. "Expanding this cemetery ensures Illinois Veterans will continue to receive the benefits they earned," said Secretary Shinseki. "With this expansion we are honoring our commitment to maintain this national shrine as a lasting tribute to the men and women who served our nation."

VA awarded the contract to Kepa Services, Inc., a service-disabled Veteran-owned small business from Milwaukee, Wis., in the amount of $22,978,000. The project is scheduled for completion in summer 2012.

The expansion will develop 20 acres and support 10 years of projected burials. The project includes approximately 12,122 pre-placed crypts, 325 conventional gravesites, 2,577 cremains burial sites and 6,584 columbarium niches for cremains.

Other improvements to the cemetery will include the main entrance gate, new roadways, parking, signage, an assembly area, committal shelters and accessibility and handicap access. The project also will include walkways, site furnishings, grading, drainage, fencing, landscaping, a utility distribution system and environmental preservation and mitigation.

The public information center and other buildings will receive upgrades to incorporate improvements in energy conservation and environmental design. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, provides a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction, which this cemetery will meet.

Veterans with a discharge issued under conditions other than dishonorable, their spouses and eligible dependent children can be buried in a VA national cemetery. Also eligible are military personnel who die on active duty, their spouses and eligible dependents. Other burial benefits available for all eligible Veterans, regardless of whether they are buried in a national cemetery or a private cemetery, include a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate and a government headstone or marker, or service medallion for a private marker. Families of eligible decedents may also order a memorial headstone or marker when remains are not available for interment.

In the midst of the largest expansion since the Civil War, VA operates 131 national cemeteries in 39 states and Puerto Rico and 33 soldiers' lots and monument sites. More than 3.5 million Americans, including Veterans of every war and conflict, are buried in VA's national cemeteries on more than 19,000 acres of land.

Paris Winery will be hosting their October 16th "Concert In The Vineyards" from 5:00-9:00PM with a Country and Blues Fest. This is the last of the series for this season beginning again in April 2011. Concerts are free of charge and folks are invited to an evening under the stars on the beautiful grounds enjoying good music, good company and some good wine. Tables and chairs are available but concert goers are welcome to bring out your favorite lawn chair and pick your own spot, pack a picnic or dine at Ruggero's Italian Bistro at Paris Winery-open late on concert nights. Country and Blues Fest will be featuring Jim Overton, James Walker and friends.

Singer and Songwriter Jim Overton started singing in church at the young age of four. He began his life-long music studies as a drummer at the age of ten. Over the years he has mastered many instruments including piano/keyboards, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, banjo and the mandolin. Jim started writing music as a teenager and has currently written over 500 songs in many genres. Performing with many bands, first as a drummer, then, as the front man in two successful rock bands in his hometown of Phoenix.

After moving to Nashville 7 years ago, playing Country, Southern Rock and Americana he's been making new friends all around town. "Music is my life and life is good" is Jim's motto. "It's in my blood, it's who I am". Today Jim spends his time writing and recording his original music and producing and engineering various recording projects for other songwriters and artists. Jim plays out frequently at many popular places including Tootsies, Commodore Lounge, Nashville Fringe Festival, Picks, Barefoot Charlies, Sun Beach Club and more. Check him out at www.myspace.com/jimovertonmusic.

Singer and Songwriter James Walker and friends will be singing and playing the Blues on his acoustic/electric guitar. Moving to Paris about 6 years ago after retirement James has found his love in home entertainment and inspiring the lives of others performing Gospel and Blues in many churches and retirement homes around Paris and Cottage Grove. James is the guy responsible for the Paris Opry performance –now in it's 4th year, held annually on the second Saturday of June at the Krider Perfoming Arts Center in Paris, TN.

James also hosts and directs the Friday Night Blues Club every Friday night at the Paris Civic Center. The public is invited to sit in anytime and maybe even join in. James's roots are here in Western Tennessee with his grandfather growing up in Cottage Grove and the family owned Walker Graveyard near the airport. Paris Winery is located at 2982 Harvey Bowden Rd. in Paris, TN. Normal business hours are Mon-Thurs. 10-6:00 PM, Friday & Saturday 10-8:00Pm and Sundays 12-6:00 PM. From Interstate 40 exit 126 towards Camden apx. 28.5 miles on the left. From Murray travel Hwy. 641 through town towards Camden. 5.7 miles from the Hwy. 218 Bypass