Loose Leaf Notes

An April tornado that hit in Pulaski County (less than an hour’s drive from Floyd) prompted three Floyd women to organize a benefit called Neighbors Helping Neighbors to raise money for the tornado victims.   The following are photos from a collection I took at the event for the local paper. The applesauce cake at the bake sale was delicious, the musical line-up top notch.

Floyd native Ashlee Blankenship and Blades of Blue performed traditional and contemporary bluegrass and gospel songs from their debut CD, produced by Sammy Shelor and recorded at Mountain Fever Studio in Floyd.  Blankenship is pictured with Dustin Pyrtle on lead guitar and bassist Travis Greer.  Watch a video of the band  HERE.

Organizers (left to right) Judy Weddle, Donna Barber and Lisa Abshire. Abshire commented on the wide variety of silent auction items and the generosity of the businesses and artists who donated them. Over 50 items donated were valued at about $2,000 and included toys, coffee, jewelry, pottery, woodcrafts, a violin, massages, manicures, gift certificates, Floydfest tickets, a Hotel Floyd stay and more.

The audience enjoyed the harmonies of Highway South, a family bluegrass and bluegrass gospel group.  Video clip HERE.  Other groups performing were Kenny and Sarah Farley, 100% Bluegrass, Cox and Company, and hand drums with Candace Long and Friends.

Joyce Harris (left) traveled from Stafford, Virginia to hear the music and support the cause.  Harris, wife of the late Trent Harris of Floyd, brought a bag full of clothes to donate to tornado victims.  Modene Quesenberry of Dugspur and Claude Wade of Floyd are also pictured. The trio had just met.

Floyd blues musician Scott Perry performed a spiritual medley, along with a selection other songs, including THIS Bob Dylan song.

Penny Wright (left) said she traveled from Rocky Mount to attend.  She purchased two cakes from a couple of young Baked Sale volunteers.