P CLASSIFIED MARKETPLACE - WWW.NFLAONLINE.COM - SERVING NORTH FLORIDA AND SOUTH GEORGIA 2 save.com '. . , 1 , " ADVERTISING CIRCULARS * COUPONS * DEALS * TRAVEL SPECIALS * ONLINE ANYTIME! Contact Mlonja Slater at the Siu rannee Democrat to advertise on zip2save.com 386-362-1734 * 1-800-525-4182 Local artist paints riverboat backdrop for Spirit of the Suwannee i!. Bill Keith, right, and his helper Harry Taylor, were honored by the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park at the unveiling with a reception. - Courtesy photo "I can't sing, so this is my song," says Bill Keith of his gift , ROIUNTRiEE New 2010olo sA IrMIE RE NssanV er __ _ - DOWN PER MONTH . . - - S 75 months@ 4.5% APR with approved credit. Payment includes tax,tag, title &fees. New 2009 Titan New 2010 ont Nissan ilH N issan entra , mowrl i P cl DoIWIaI I 84 months 5.5% APR with approved credit. Payment includes tax, tag, title fees 7 5 months @ 4.5% APR with approved credit. Payment includes tax, tag, title & fees. 84 months @5.5% APR wih approved credit Payment includes tax, tag, title & fees. 75 months @ 4.5% APR with approved credit Payment includes tax, tag, title & fees. L-PS =pL- I ROUNTREE ': -R lili--BE .U R3U�5250M 4 To . co*M^ ssnChoose ~- From! ,T Xsis SILVERADO DOWN 84 months @ 5.5% APR with approved credit. | -J4 LJ -.__ 8;Payment includes tax, tag, title & fees. PER MONTH 4316 West U.S. Hwy 90 Lake City, FL S386-752-5050 6,6i RMChevy.com - RMNissan.con Submitted A retired career military guy, Bill Keith always loved painting, studying art in high school and later under various artists during his military career. Al- though he dabbled in art his entire life, he had never taken on a huge project such as the one he recently gave as a gift to the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. It was all about friendship and worth the effort, he relates. Bill Keith has been mak- ing nightly trips to the SOSMP for years, dining with his good friend, Charles "Uncle Charles" Carrithers. When Charles passed away suddenly last year, Keith, a widower, continued to eat at the SOS Caf6 and Restaurant night- ly. He became friends with Charles' sister, Jean Cor- nett, who with husband Bob started the Music Park. "One day Bill said he wanted to give me (and the Music Park) a gift," Jean Cornett said. Miss Jean, as she is called by family, co-work- ers and friends, said she didn't know what to make of the offer to paint a huge backdrop since she didn't know Bill was an artist. Bill soon produced a draw- ing of his idea for the back- drop that would cover the entire back of the Music Hall stage. "I sat here one night and made a sketch and told her she needed something unique to the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park," Bill said of his project. After a few re- visions over the course of several months, Bill enlist- ed the help of one of his buddies, Harry Taylor. The gift of love was underway. "I can't sing, so this is my song," Bill said as he related the story of his artistic gift to the Music Hall where music is made weekly. After several weeks painting the design for the paddle wheel riverboat much like those often seen on the Suwannee River in the 1800s, there emerged a paddle wheel boat named the Spirit of the Suwannee. Painted on heavy muslin, the guys worked for nearly a month, spending 2-3 days a week at the Music Hall on the largest painting Bill had ever done. Intri- cate details can be seen on the boat such as a memori- al to Charles, giving him the honorary title of cap- tain. "I came to the Spirit of the Suwannee Park be- cause of the SOS Caf6 and Restaurant, it was close to where I live, and this is where I met Charles," Bill said of his friendship with Charles. "We had a lot in common and became friends," he said. Bill, now "73 years young" and a chess player who also likes to sculpt wood, did a lot of measur- ing to put the project into perspective, all the while moving forward with what turned out to be a magnificent backdrop perfect for the stage of a music hall located on the banks of the famous Suwannee River. "I'm a retired sailor, and I've painted enough ships," Bill laughed, sug- gesting he put the big job of painting the large paddle wheel boat off on Harry. After all, retiring as a chief after 20 years in the Navy does give a man some advantage in the pecking order. Harry, a regular at karaoke nights in the Mu- sic Hall, had a big part in the project and he, too, worked long and hard to make the backdrop the perfect gift. His friends and family were on hand for the unveiling and re- ception for he and Bill, crowning them both with "arteest hats," otherwise known as berets. Both men were present- ed with a certificate of ap- SEE LOCAL, PAGE 11 Jean Cornett cuts Bill Keith's appreciation cake while an- other volunteer serves it. - Courtesy photo PAGE 10, MARCH 24 & 25, 2010