When I was a child my family would travel Down to Western Kentucky where my parents were born And there's a backwards old town that's often remembered So many times that my memories are worn.

Chorus: And daddy won't you take me back to Muhlenberg County Down by the Green River where Paradise lay Well, I'm sorry my son, but you're too late in asking Mister Peabody's coal train has hauled it away

Well, well, well I feel compelled to write a mini-tome. My pen has been silent long enough! Marty Greene and Charles (Alumni of the Century) Elam are putting together a “Show and Tell” program about White Lodging Services. All those interested should see Madame Farley for information. In the olden days, this was called a smoker but the Administration won’t let me use that word within 50 feet of the doors!

Congratulations to HTM alum Jokima Hiller! Jokima has just opened a Country Inn & Suites in Portage, IN. Also, kudos to Michael and Natalie McVey on the opening of their restaurant on Main Street in Lowell, IN. Make sure you stop by both establishments and say howdy.

Sue Finke and Bun (Chef Pit) are offering a foodie class on International cooking. Both are highly skilled in the kitchen and if you are interested in food, this is a must take class. Sign up early or it will be filled. Also, Chy has told me that Spanish 106 will be offered for the HTM folks in spring. The class meets on TR 5:00-6:20. Your language skills are muy importante! Learn and go talk to El Profesor Ezekiel Flannery in Español... By the way, HTM student Jorge Alcantar is hopefully going to study Hospitality in Cáceres, Spain. I have been there and it is beautiful. He will have a great time and a wonderful cultural learning experience. I am still weaning myself off the "jamon" (you’ll know what this is once you take SPAN 106).

This is our first semester without Professor West and I miss her! She is one tough lady and a dear friend of the program! Her attention to detail and the wonderful way she persuaded her students to put forth maximum effort, will be long remembered! Drop her a line and say hello! Poor Professor Vorwald retired 10 years ago, but still hangs around. Thank God he does! He is the “teaching mule” of the department! Try not to bother him in the afternoon as he takes a nap from 2pm-4pm. In her ongoing quest for knowledge, Professor Hack will be on Sabbatical leave next semester researching hospitality industry trends and innovations. Good luck, Judy!

Wendy Stocks is here with us this year as a Visiting Professor. She has been a regular around here for a long time and we are very happy to have her full time. Congratulations, Wendy and thank you for your dedication to our program from all of us! Rita Fields is around and all charged up (Great cookies but marginal muffins). Her classes are overloaded with students and she continues to grow the enrollments in the nutrition area. Everybody remember Farley is the “Queen of HTM” and all questions and concerns about the program should go to her. It is lonely at the top!

Okay, fitness interns! Find something to do instead of hanging out at the desk in the fitness center. Do you realize how much we are paying you? John, Tina and Tabby need to be working you guys much harder! I stopped at Fitness Pointe to congratulate HTM-FMO alum Kemuel Hawkins on his article in The Times. He is doing well and was talking about going back to graduate school. Outstanding! The program is getting excellent press with all of our graduates being so successful. I want to thank Lisa Cowper and Melody Steele for their hard work in Mississippi. They became excellent roofers! Good job FMers!

Barb and Chy are getting ready for registration. Make sure you have your stuff together. We have over 1,100 students in BHS and most of you we see multiple times! So come prepared for your advising appointment or we will have you doing dishes in Chef Henning’s 492 class.

The Alumni dinner is coming up in December so stop by and meet those who have come before you. Many can be extremely helpful with career opportunities.

Attention! Attention! We are having a casting call for students wanting to be in the new HTM promotional video. If you are interested, see Prof Farley.

Da... That’s all folks! If you have any good stories or gossip send it to me and I will make sure everybody hears about it!

When I die let my ashes float down the Green River Let my soul roll on up to the Rochester dam I'll be halfway to Heaven with Paradise waitin' Just five miles away from wherever I am. (John Prine, Paradise)