2010
Showcase Oldham County
Expo
to feature
Oldham Icon talent contest
Event
features more than
100 exhibitor booths
By
Helen E. McKinney
Contributing Writer
BUCKNER, Ky. (March 2010) Live entertainment
has been a regular feature of Showcase Oldham County for some time.
This year, 20 contestants are vying for the top position of Oldham Icon
and hoping to outshine the competition.
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Photo
by Don Ward
Last
years chamber business
networking luncheon drew a large crowd
prior to the Showcase opening.
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Local musical talent filled Performance Hall at the Oldham
County Schools Arts Center in Crestwood on Feb. 24 to audition for a
spot in the finals. The top 20 contestants with the highest numerical
scores were invited to compete in the finals, said Tori Favier,
office manager for the Oldham Chamber & Economic Development.
Tensions mounted during auditions when two contestants tied for the
20th seat. They had to sing a second time to determine who would be
invited to the finals. The judges were Alvin MacWilliams, executive
director of the Oldham County Schools Arts Center; Laura Hagan, reporter
for The Oldham Era; Rick Ewen, Realtor with Century 21 and former radio
personality; and Barry Laws, owner of Open Range Sports with numerous
acting credits to his name.
The panel of judges each numerically scored the contestants individually
based on vocal ability, originality and stage presence, said Favier.
The top 20 finalists for Oldham Icon will each perform one song before
judges and a live audience at Showcase Oldham County, beginning at 1
p.m. Saturday, March 13. Winners will be announced after all contestants
have performed.
Friday,
March 12:
10 a.m. 11 a.m.: Sneak preview for exhibitors
and business leaders only.
11 a.m. 2 p.m.: Power networking and Kickoff
Luncheon for business representatives only.
Saturday,
March 13:
10 a.m. 3 p.m.: Showcase Oldham County is open
to the public.
1 p.m.: Finalists for Oldham Icon will be presented,
with winners announced at 3 p.m.
A new
feature will be added to Showcase Oldham County this year Showcase
Bingo. Visitors will receive a bingo card when they come
into Showcase. When they visit an exhibitor, they will receive
a stamp. When their card is covered, they will be eligible
to win a cash prize of $150. All coverall cards will go into a
pot and a drawing will be done immediately following the finals
of the Oldham Icon contest, which begins at 1 p.m. Saturday, March
13.
Oldham
Icon Top 20 Finalists:
Brandy Neelly, Kelly Cissell, Clinton Spaulding, Madison Armor,
Crystal Husband, Mark Dickerson, Darlene Welch, Melissa Crabtree,
David Sapp, Rachel Banta, Denise Watts-Wilson, Rachel Smith, Elizabeth
Chace, Regan Hardaway, Joanna Galvan, Stephanie Page, Johanna
Papa, Tanisha House, Keelia Breenan, Truman Simpson.
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Our judges are again being asked to cast numerical
scores for each performance, with one additional scoring category added
for appearance, said Favier. The contestant with the highest
score will receive first prize, the title Oldham Icon and $350 cash.
The second place contestant will receive $150 cash.
Oldham Icon is an official program of the Oldham Chamber & Economic
Development presented by The Game Room and sponsored by The Oldham Era.
Live entertainment adds value for visitors and exhibitors alike, said
Favier. The Oldham Icon competition is a great fit for the Showcase
Oldham County event. There is no better place to celebrate the hidden
talent in our area.
Showcase Oldham County actually begins the previous day, Friday, March
12, with a sneak preview for exhibitors and chamber members from 10
a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Oldham County YMCA Soccer Complex, located at
20 Quality Place in Buckner. From 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., a Kickoff Luncheon,
sponsored by Norton Brownsboro Hospital, will be held. The show will
be open to the public on March 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The showcase is being held at the Soccer Complex because we have
almost 100 exhibitors and there are few places in the Oldham County
community that offers space for a 100 exhibitor trade show, said
Deana Epperly Karem, executive director of the Oldham County Chamber
of Commerce. Showcase Oldham County is presented by Baptist Hospital
Northeast.
Included in the Saturday lineup will be family activities, indoor fun
zone for kids, a new car show, hot air balloon and giveaways. Baptist
Hospital Northeast will offer a health fair with free health screenings
and a CPR class. Participating local businesses will offer workshops
on various household improvements.
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Photo
provided
Contestant
Madison
Armor performs
during the
preliminary round
in late February.
In all, 20 singers
advanced to the finals,
to be held March 13
at the Showcase.
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A new feature, Bingo, will be played at this years
event with a $150 cash prize award.
To play, visitors will be given a stamp and must visit booths with their
Showcase card. Once they have filled up their card, it will be put in
a pot and eligible for the cash prize.
An Exhibitor Appreciation Breakfast was held on Feb. 26 at the John
Black Community Center in Buckner to get exhibitors pumped up
about the show, said Karem. The show celebrates Oldham County through
exhibits, workshops and local entertainment.
The theme for this years showcase is Oldham County Open
for Business.
This years theme is the theme of everything we do,
Karem said. Oldham County, Open for Business means we are open
for customers, tradition and opportunity.
Karem said the theme implies that the county welcomes a host of things
including ideas, businesses, employees, entrepreneurs, partnerships
and whatever can help to make a business a successful venture in our
community.
In the past, the Showcase has provided a wonderful opportunity for the
community to see the different types of businesses that are present
within the county, said Robin Lawson, Oldham County Chamber of Commerce
Board Chairman. The Showcase has been successful in showcasing
to the community our members and the offerings they have.
Oldham County stands ready to support new and long-time businesses,
Karem said. We want our residents to utilize the services of our
Chamber members and Oldham county businesses, and we want businesses
to consider Oldham County a great place for a new or expanded location.
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