The annual Relay for Life event to raise money for cancer research and treatment begins Friday night at 7 p.m. at the Valdosta Middle School track. Those who have survived the disease and their caregivers are asked to come be a part of the event, and to walk the first lap together.

After dark, a special luminary service will be held to honor those who have succumbed to the disease. It’s a sobering moment to look all around that track, lined with the lit luminaries, and realize that each one represents someone’s loved one from our community who was lost to cancer.

Unfortunately, cancer is an equal opportunity disease, striking young and old without discrimination. Everyone knows someone who has had cancer, either in their own family or through work, church, or school. It’s a disease that can be treated, but not ever completely cured, and those who have survived cancer never fully leave the experience behind.

In honor of those you care about, in honor of those you have taken care of, in honor of all who have survived or succumbed, please support the Relay for Life this weekend. The event lasts all night, and walkers can participate in groups, teams or as individuals to help raise money for the cause. Music and entertainment are provided to keep those there late or through the night awake, and it’s a great way to participate in a community event that truly brings out the best in everyone.

Business Roundup

Good news for those who remember when it was here many years ago. Maryland Fried Chicken is returning to Valdosta, leasing the former Shark Tale restaurant building on N. Ashley St. They’re already at work to get ready for opening.

Another First Commercial Real Estate sale this week is the former Payless shoe store on N. Ashley. A local investor will rent the building to a retail business. The company is also getting ready to finalize the sale of the former Hulstein-Taylor Tire Co. property to the City of Valdosta. It’s next to the McCranie Building where the new joint city/county crime lab is going in.

I had a strong response to my comment last week about Olive Garden. There are apparently readers who think it gets way more attention than it deserves and I should stop altogether until the Darden Restaurant group can find a location in town that suits them.

I’d love to stop mentioning it, but since I average more than a dozen phone calls and e-mails a month, not to mention people stopping me to ask about it (I was even followed into the restroom at an event one time), even though I agree and would be more than happy to not mention OG again until they have broken ground, hired employees and are serving up pasta, I will probably have to continue every now and again, if for no other reason than to squelch the most recent rumor.

My apologies to all those who were offended.

As for the rest of the city, the new Smok’n Pig restaurant is really moving along, with an anticipated summer opening. It is being built off N. Valdosta Road and Old Highway 41.

There are a number of hotels in various stages, from the Wingate to the Hawthorne to the Hilton to the Comfort Suites, and now I understand we will soon have a Clarion as well.

The new Verizon sales office next to the entrance at Valdosta High School is moving fast as well. I think they’ll do well there, but imagine what kind of business a fast food or coffee place could have done?

Things are moving in Valdosta, some slow, some fast, but forward momentum is always much better than backwards.