14th Annual Treehuggers' Ball
Features Great Music, Swell Gifts

OVEC friends old and new were grooving to the music at our 14th annual Treehugger’s Ball held this April. A special thanks goes to Roy and Terry Clark, owners of the Calamity Café, and for their loyal support of OVEC’s environmental work year after year. (Be sure to support this fine Huntington restaurant located downtown on the corner of Hal Greer Boulevard and Third Avenue).

It’s only right to single out Eric Fout for appreciation. My dedicated OVEC husband has organized the musical part of this tradition for many, many years and has also played music at most, if not all these events, including this one. First there was Eric’s group, Two Dudes With Lutes, followed by The Pagan Babies, The Porch Band, Moleskin Panties (a name I decried as sexist!) and the locally famous Big Rock and the Candy Ass Mountain Boys, who soon will premier their first CD.

Attending treehuggers rocked, swayed, shuffled and boogied to the sounds of Paige Del Porto, Them Others, The Common Land Band and Big Rock, and the Candy Ass Mountain Boys. OVEC deeply appreciates the volunteer spirit of all the musicians who give so freely of their time and gifts to help OVEC raise local donations to stop the coal industry’s mind-boggling mining practice of mountain range removal and stream annihilation.

OVEC also thanks Troy Haney for his thoughtfulness – buying and donating potted herbs for table favors at this year’s event. Sales were brisk for OVEC’s new organic Treehugger’s Ball T-shirt with a very timely and appropriate quote on the back from Helen Keller: "This is the time for a loud voice, open speech, and fearless thinking. I rejoice that I live in such a splendidly disturbing time." These T-shirts are still available at the OVEC office.

Because OVEC’s work focuses on real life and death issues, it’s absolutely essential that OVEC staff, members, and volunteers take a break from hard environmental realities and kick up their heels for some fun and relaxation. The Treehuggers' Ball is one way to do that.

And last, but certainly not least, OVEC extends its gratitude to all our members, volunteers and supporters who attend, donate and often leave with empty pockets! We couldn’t do this work without your financial support.

Please patronize these artists and businesses that generously donated items for this years event: Calamity Café; Roane County artist Joe Lung; artists Eric Kumlien and Clarice Kumlien; and Stonecrest Animal Medical Center and Berry Hill Garden and Craft Center, both in Huntington.