The billboards promoting coal driving up I-77/WV Turnpike are remarkable. They are clearly geared toward West Virginia voters, and I imagine they are highly effective in getting the voters behind the Coal Lobby in WV.

And more thread-drift to contact Russ.

Russ, Annie says to tell you that you and Gail have to go to the Getaway. I can vouch for what a wonderful gathering it is for singers. There are two threads recently started about the 2009 Getaway. It is sponsored by FSGW, and Annie and I have attended the last 6 or 7 years. A wonderful retreat held at West River, about 35-40 minutes south of Annapolis on the western shore of the Bay. It is not a festival. It is a participatory retreat with people interested in every "genre" of folk music.

Check out past Getaway threads, and/or e-mail me at endresgardenataoldotcom.

Annie was quite firm that the two of you would love it and wanted me to contact you regarding it - and she is not generally so vehement!