Members of the 100 Black Men of Valdosta are once again hosting their annual Barbecue Cookoff Saturday, Aug. 1, on the Lowndes County Courthouse lawn.

The smell of seasoned meat will permeate the downtown area as the teams begin usually at dawn to prepare for the cookoff. With two divisions, commercial and backyard, the competition gets pretty heated, in a friendly, jovial sort of way. Most of the competitors have been coming back year after year for the 15 years the event has been held.

The contestants will submit small samples to the judges around noon, and they’ll start selling their barbecue plates to the public around mid-morning or whenever they’re done cooking and the food is ready. For most, this is a way for their organizations to raise funds, and for the 100 it’s one of their primary fund-raising events each year.

The 100 Black Men of Valdosta is a very active organization and funds scholarships, SAT prep classes, trips for students, and many other worthy causes every year. The members are professional men who are very committed to education and ensuring that the youth of the community receive all the help they need in order to successfully complete high school and enter college.

The cookoff will also feature entertainment through the early afternoon, and while some chairs and tables are provided, folks who are going to be spending the day are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs.

It’s not just a chance to buy good barbecue, it’s also a community event. And more importantly, it’s a fund-raiser for education. The members of the 100 spend a great deal of time to ensure that the event runs smoothly, and the community is given the opportunity to relax and enjoy a day downtown with friends and family.

Back to School Shopping

Don’t forget that this week is the four day-Sales Tax Holiday, so if you are looking to buy school supplies, clothes, computers and accessories, etc., shop between Thursday and Sunday to ensure that you won’t have to pay sales tax on your approved items.

Business Roundup

Thanks to a number of readers who contacted me about the Verizon store. After the merger with Alltel, Verizon left their brand new, multi-million dollar building on Norman Drive to move into the former Alltel location on St. Augustine. Alas, no one seems to know what is going to happen now with the big building at the entrance to Lowndes High School. And it looks like Verizon has opened another location on Bemiss Road near the Harveys. Also moving next to Harveys on Bemiss is BeBe Nails.

Taylor Insurance has completed their move and is now located on North Patterson Street near the campus. The company has done a lot of renovations and has gone as green as possible in restoring the former doctor’s office into a lovely work environment.

The Better Mood Clinic is open in the North Ashley Professional Plaza. The building was blessed in a special ceremony in May, and the official ribbon cutting was held Friday. The clinic offers psychiatric care and therapy services.

Also in the same plaza, the Quizno’s foundation has been poured and the restaurant should be in building mode soon.