The City of Valdosta turns a century and a half old in 2010 and events are already in the works for the entire year of celebration.

One of the many exciting things going on for the year is the compilation of a cookbook, “Still Cooking after 150 Years,” featuring recipes new and old. If you have some terrific heirloom recipes passed on to you from your mother, grandmother or beyond, then you should enter them so they can be included in the cookbook.

Likewise, if you are an avid chef and have some great original recipes, then please enter them as well. There are some unique categories, including Kid’s Corner, for 15 and under; Church Night Suppers/ Grandma’s Favorites; Peaches, Pecans and Peanuts; BBQ & Tailgating; Quick and Easy Entrees and For Your Future (Healthy/Good for You).

Time is running out to enter your fave food, and knowing how many incredible cooks we have here in this community, this should be a great cookbook to buy as a keepsake.

It will be available next year, hopefully by February, and you can expect notices about many more great and exciting events coming up soon.

If you want to enter a recipe, you can e-mail them to lwilliams@industrialauthority.com or mail them to Lu Williams, P.O. Box 1963, Valdosta, GA 31603-1963.

Recipes are due by Friday, Nov. 6, 2009 so get cooking and get ‘em in!

Business Roundup

Renee’s Fashions, a mainstay on the Valdosta fashion scene, located just off Baytree Road, has a new look and some new ideas. The store now has a Gift Market with vendors offering all sorts of gift items and home accessories. They’re planning a grand opening the beginning of November.

The Downtown Diner is open under new ownership. The restaurant is on West Hill Avenue and they’re open for breakfast and lunch, beginning at 6 a.m., Monday through Thursday, and until 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. They're also open Sundays from 6 a.m. to noon.

The Image Salon, formerly located in Sugarcreek Plaza, has relocated to Peachtree Plaza on Gornto Road with the same staff, some new faces and stylists from the former Le Salon also joining the business.

Coldwell Banker Commercial Real Estate will be separating from Coldwell Banker's residential side, which will remain on Gornto Road. The commercial folks will soon be located on Baytree Road in Remerton in the building being renovated that will soon house Bubba Highsmith’s State Farm office and Nijem Tech. It looks like Marco Polo on Baytree Road will be closing very soon for renovations, with plans to reopen in a few weeks.

Driving on North Valdosta Road coming into town you will notice the Parrott Walk-In Clinic, a new physician’s office, that is now open for patients.

All of the above is new information, plus there's a ton of things I've mentioned before that are coming along.