Building the Vision/Martin Civic Center/Nicholas-Beazley Museum nears completion, campaign receives more state NAP tax credits (11/07/07)
It has been quite some time since I have had the opportunity to write about the Martin Community Center/Nicholas-Beazley Aviation Museum. Work has been steady, as weather would allow, and of this date, the target for completion of the Community Center is the end of January...

Building the Vision/Swan song for 'Building the Vision' column (06/13/07)
As you may have read in the Democrat-News on Monday, the Pancake Breakfast at the airport on Sunday did not reach record-breaking crowds, but considering the weather, was well-attended. The flow of patrons was steady, like the rain. The pancakes were flying, if nothing else! The exhibits, including the Taylor Craft, were bright and intriguing...

Building the Vision/Pancake Day fly-in, drive-in a fun way to pitch in (06/06/07)
As Brittney Spears would say, "Oops, I did it again!" When I wrote about the Pancake Day at the airport on June 10, I referred to it as a Saturday. Wrong! It's a Sunday, and let me say, I can't think of a better way to spend part of your day ... before or after church ... or whenever you can get there!...

Building the Vision/Pancake breakfast will offer chance to see memorabilia (05/30/07)
I do believe that it is almost June. That signals that the Pancake Breakfast for the Civic Center/Museum is coming up soon ... June 10, to be exact. The memorabilia we now have, including airplanes, will be available for you to see. What fun it is to look at the items and think of the glory days of flying in its infancy, and in the Nicholas-Beazley era!...

Building the Vision/Czech museum yields display ideas for local project (05/23/07)
I missed writing the column last week, and am glad to get back into the "groove," so to speak. My husband and I went to Prague, Czech Republic, to celebrate our 40th anniversary. The actual date of our wedding is in June, but we thought we would go early to avoid the summer crowds...

Building the Vision/New materials for museum, courtesy of Arizona woman (05/09/07)
Yesterday, I received some interesting correspondence from Shirley Clark, the woman from Tempe, Ariz., who I wrote about last week. Her father learned to fly at the Marshall Flight School, and she sent his picture and a synopsis of his life to be placed among the items for the museum. What a dashing young pilot he was!...

Building the Vision/Visitor from Arizona shares interest in N-B history (05/02/07)
Last week it was my pleasure to meet a lady from Tempe, Ariz. Her name is Shirley Clark, and she had come all the way to Marshall to do research on her father. She is writing a book about his life. So, how does that tie in with my column? Well, her father was an accomplished pilot who learned to fly at the Nicholas-Beazely Aviation School. ...

Building the Vision/Interior design committee gets to work, seeks ideas (04/25/07)
Last Thursday, the committee which has been formed to design the interior of the civic center/museum met for the first time. It was a beginning, in which the members shared some of their ideas and visions for the finished facility. This will obviously be an on-going process...

Building the Vision/Civic center/aviation museum groundbreaking a success (04/18/07)
The clouds parted, the sun poured down, and the groundbreaking took place. I am taking the break in the weather as a good omen. A large crowd was on hand to see the official beginning of a project that has been a dream for so many. Sincere gratitude goes to all the dignitaries who came, spoke, and turned the earth. Thanks, too, to the well-wishers ... many of them monetary supporters ... who attended. Following the ceremony, a delicious meal was served and a time of fellowship was enjoyed...

Building the Vision/Campaign officials hope public attends groundbreaking (04/11/07)
This is the week ... tomorrow is the day! The official groundbreaking for the Martin Civic Center/Nicholas-Beazley Aviation Museum will take place at the building site by the Marshall Municipal Airport at 5 p.m. Of course, the public is invited ... really encouraged to attend. ...

Building the Vision/A report from televisionland; More news from 1929 (04/04/07)
Yesterday, Bryan Berlin and I made our second appearance on the Paul Pepper Show. We met before broadcast with an excited and accommodating Paul Pepper and James Mouser. The movement and sounds of the studio are fascinating to me. I suppose that in another life I would like to have some part in the media. ...

Building the Vision/Groundbreaking on April 12; Pepper show April 2 (03/28/07)
I want to apologize for the error regarding the date of the upcoming groundbreaking ceremonies. The true date is April 12. Mark your calendars and plan to join us, if you can. For many of us who have been actively involved in this project for a long time, April 12 will be a significant day both literally and figuratively. ...

Building the Vision/N-B groundbreaking planned for April 12 (03/21/07)
We are, indeed, making a plea for a last amount of help with funding so that we can complete this Vision that has been seven years in the making. Yes, although we have been pressing for monetary help for the last year, it has been several years since the first seeds of the Vision were sewn. It all began with the acquisition of a run-down NB-3, made possible by the rapid fund-raising effort to amass $60,000...

Building the Vision/Local airport was busy in late 1920s (03/14/07)
Sometimes ... well, maybe a lot of times ... I don't sleep very well at night. Therefore, I am probably one of the most informed insomniacs around. During those waking hours, I hit every news cast at least once, and sometimes more. Good news for me ... ...

Building the Vision/Daring pilot puts on show for Marshall (03/07/07)
The birds are singing, the sun is shining, and the temperatures are approaching 60 degrees! Now, to an optimist, this is spring! It is finally here ... no more ice and snow! To a pessimist, on the other hand, this is a cruel teaser that will coax the buds and sprouts to expose themselves then get zapped. ...

More exploits of those N-B 'flyboys' (02/28/07)
I hope you had a chance to read the "City Officials Hear Update on Center/N-B Museum" article in The Marshall Democrat-News. Bill Riggins explained several aspects of the plans that have been modified, giving both the details of any changes and the reasons for them. ...

Building the Vision/Baseball notables step up to the plate for N-B (02/21/07)
It's thawing! That makes me think that although we may still have some cold weather ahead, we are inching closer to spring. That, in turn yells to me ... "We can start building the Civic Center/Museum!" All of us who are part of the project are starting to get those "butterflies" people get when something exciting is about to happen...

Building the Vision/N-B thanks city for land purchase (02/14/07)
I know I have started the last few articles with some kind of comment about the weather. However, as I type this, I am looking out into my back yard, spotting a gorgeous cardinal perched in a bush heavy-laden with snow. I would be remiss, I think, if I did not weigh in on the beauty of this world and this time of year. I won't discuss any negatives. We are blessed in many ways...

Building the Vision/Businessman sees the worth of N-B project (02/07/07)
Greetings to all! Will it ever thaw? When can we wash our cars again without having the doors freeze shut? What is the salt doing to my sidewalks? These are all probing questions that may keep you up at night. Here is another ... Have you been to campaign headquarters yet to give a donation? While we are thrilled with the amount of money we have amassed so far, we realistically know that there is a distance to go before we have reached our goal...

N-B planes were part of Cleveland air exhibit (01/31/07)
Brrrrr! Happy Wednesday. I hope your furnace is working and that the price of heating fuel doesn't go any higher! Just think ... when you use the Civic Center or visit the Nicholas-Beazley Museum in winter, you'll certainly be warm there! I had to tie that in, you know...

Building the Vision/Men -- and women -- took to the skies (01/17/07)
I can only wonder if those flying aces I write about could have done anything in this weather! It seems like landing on ice like we have now would result in one thrill ride most anyone would want to forego. I hope all of you are safe and warm. The weather "gurus" have promised that the end of the week should bring relief...

Building the Vision/The continued adventures of Barney Zimmerly (01/10/07)
I hope some of you were able to see the Paul Pepper Show on KOMU, channel 8 in Columbia last Wednesday. Bryan Berlin and I were on the show, and we had a great time! Having been interested in broadcasting for a long time, being behind the scenes to see what all goes into the production was the best part for me...

Building the Vision/Flying school was major major of the community (11/15/06)
Yesterday, it was quite a pleasure for me to meet and have lunch with Don Harmon, Fox 4 weathercaster. He was in Marshall to speak to the Monday Club members at their regular monthly meeting. As we became acquainted, we talked about our families, our backgrounds, and our towns (in his case, city). ...