NASHVILLE FLOOD 2010

This past weekend Nashville was hit with extreme flooding. People lost their lives, homes, and much damage and loss was done to Music City's historic venues including the Grand Ole Opry House, The Grand Ole Opry Museum, the Opryland Hotel, and many of the businesses down on broadway. Please keep Nashville in your thoughts and prayers. Below, I have posted a note from my friend, Julie, in Nashville on the flooding. (used with permission).

The news stations here in Nashville have so much information and tons of photos. Check them out. Nashville is doing well considering all that we are dealing with. We have two water plants and one has been down since, I think, Sunday. The second was sandbagged and saved as of now. We are being asked to conserve water, drinking and cooking only where possible. No extra water use. Gasoline is scarce, but only because of the problems with getting it from the supply, and then getting it to the stations. Taking hours to get one tanker to some places., due to the long lines at the supply, and logistics to get it out with many routes blocked. The river crested yesterday evening, and now the waters are going to begin to go down. The river crested at 51.8 feet (I'm pretty sure that was the highest). The only times it has been higher were before we had the dams to control the flow. I think on chart I saw it said 1927 it was higher. Water did go up to maybe 3rd. I know they had streets closed up to 5th. The water got into the Titans stadium, onto the field, and almost to the first row of seats. I have been to the 1st row of seats and it is about 8 ft. to the field from there. As many of you might have seen, water is inside the Grand Ole Opry House. Tonight they broadcasted from the War Memorial Aud. in downtown Nashville. They will be doing the show from there and the Ryman, which was not hurt!
On a more "ground level" view, Tennessee is taking care of itself and I don't mean that in a bad way. Neighbors are helping neighbors and most of our emergency personel are volunteers. The Fire Depts and the Emergency workers of course are wonderful, but the outer areas, neighboring counties, etc. are small and staffed by volunteers. Other counties and even units from other states have come in. They have brought boats, dive teams, rescue units...it has been wonderful! They are still rescuing people from flooded homes. People are without power, water, and some have no way out from the area they are in, or they are stranded between water blocked roads, and so forth. These people are the ones that need help and we can't even begin to help much until we get to them. Local churches, etc. have been going door to door, rescue teams are now knocking on doors and roofs to see if anyone is there. I am afraid the death toll will rise.
My son Chris is working as an EMT with his job at an ambulance service and volunteer with a Fire Dept. in neighboring county. These workers he is working with are selfless, and some of them have lost their homes and are still going out in the rescue boats all day long. Please remember these.
My brother-in-law got to go in and see his house today. there is 3 feet of water around it so we can't go in to load stuff. The house has 2 feet of water inside. Better than he had first thought. The thing now is the power is still on, and the breaker box is in the flooded basement. They cannot do anything until the power is shut off and the waters go down. Thank you to everyone that has made offers to help them! You are all so kind. At this point we don't know what we can do for them yet.
Please also pray for his daughter-in-law who, on top of everything else, is having cancer surgery on Thursday. Thanks..
All I can say is please keep us in your prayers. I have tried to connect to many photos and information on this page so you can see. There are actually places in other states that didn't know what had happened here. Some people were surprised when told, they had no idea.
We just have to remember that God is still looking out for us. He is in charge! Things can be lost, but we will be okay. In the end it is all just "stuff". Take care of people. That's what it is all about. Loving people. God loves us, and Nashville loves you all for everything you have done and are doing. If all you can do is pray, that is more than enough!
THANK YOU ALL!

ELAINI RECEIVES ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Elaini was honored to receive a 2010 Crazy Fest Outstanding Achievement Award. This is an event that she has been part of for the past ten years. She first was a participant at age five and now she is proud to be invited back each year to serve as one the judges of this amazing youth talent contest. This was the 20th year for this event and as Elaini said on the way home, "one of the hardest to judge, so much talent in one room!" (Pictures coming soon)

RADIO PERFORMANCE

Elaini was invited to be part of a live radio broadcast on WJSM gospel radio. She sang the hymn The Old Rugged Cross and Life's Railway to Heaven. We have added some of the photos of this event in the 2010 gallery page.

ALBUM IN THE WORKS

Elaini is writing and co-writing songs for her upcoming album, not yet titled, with Jim McCoy's Troubador Records. She is working with some good friends in Nashville on some of the songs for this project. A single from the album will have a summer release date. Thank you to everyone for all their time, advice, and work on this new adventure. More to come!

NEW VENUE ADDED FOR SUMMER 2010

We are excited to announce this new venue and looking foward to meeting everyone at the Ohio State Fair August 4th and August 5th 2010. Times will be posted with the new 2010 schedule. Hope to see everyone in Columbus!

ELAINI PERFORMS DURING 2009 HAGERSTOWN, MD MUMMERS PARADE

A big thank you to Jim and everyone for having Elaini be part of their parade. This was a new experience and we all had a wonderful time. Elaini designed and made her own float ( using alot of math skills!) for the parade. We got a little wet getting the float ready but it all cleared up for parade time. Elaini was thrilled to be singing some old county favorites and playing guitar for the crowd down the parade route. I heard there were about 100,000 in attendence. Elaini was also interviewed for Hagerstown News while getting the float ready (and right after getting caught in the rain!). Thank you to Chris for making the trip to Hagerstown with us to be Elaini's driver and a thank you to Shawn for the use of his trailor. We couldn't have done this without all of you.

CMA (FANFAIR) 2009

CMA FEST, June 11 - 14, in Nashville, TN. Elaini will be perfoming at the FUEL for the World's Largest Fan Club Party sponsored by NIXA Country Radio and Lucky Cowboy Productions. She will also be appearing for a few songs at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge on June 16th.

SHENANDOAH APPLE BLOSSOM FESTIVAL

Elaini was proud to take part in the festivities during the 82nd annual Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, Virginia. On May 1st, Elaini rode in the Friday night Firefighter's parade. Many celebraties were in town taking part in the many events over the weekend. We had a few minutes before the parade to meet the Grand Marshall of the parade, actor Erik Estrada and NASCAR's Ward Burton. Elaini was driven by Mr. Catlett in his 1960's Dodge Coronett 500 Convertible, thank you so much for all you kindness!

CRAZYFEST

This was the second year for Elaini to sit in as one of the Judges for the Annual Youth Talent Contest, Crazyfest. What a tough year for judging! So much talent. This is a contest that is very special to Elaini. She has been part of these events since the age of 5 and first entered. It means alot to go back and continue being part of such a wonderful day.

REMEMBERING PATSY CLINE

Remembering Patsy Cline is an annual tribute to Patsy Cline and a rememberance of her tragic passing in March of 1963. This tribute takes place the weekend of March 6th at Jim McCoy's Troubadour Lounge in West Virginia. This year, a live radio broadcast took place on Sunday, March 8, 2009. Elaini had the honor of singing a few of Patsy Cline's hits including Walkin After Midnight, She's Got You, Crazy, and some other country classics for everyone.

OPERATION TROOP AID / CRS - 40

Operation Troop Aid joined CRS-40 (Country Radio Seminar) on March 6, 2009 at the Nashville Convention Center. 500 care packages were packed for our troops in Afghanistan. OTA is a non-profit organization that supports our Armed Forces. It was an honor to be part of this event and contribute something to our men and women that stand up for our freedoms. OTA was joined by country artists Adam Gregory, Darius Rucker, Danielle Reed, and many others. See pictures to side of page.

GUITAR STRAPS IN STORE

The guitar straps Elaini has been wearing at her shows are Elaini Originals; each one cut, sewn, and designed by Elaini. They are now available at Ray Betts Cars and Guitars store in Fayetteville, PA. If you get the chance and are looking for a great instrument stop by and see Ray.

                 

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

Here is a slide show link from my new friends, Troy, and his Grandmother. Troy is serving our country overseas. I heard about Troy through an email that came to me and I contacted his Grandmother. My friends, family, and I have been filling shoeboxes full of some of the little comforts of home to send to him and his buddies - warm socks, snacks, just little odds and ends that alot of us take for granted that it will always be there. This slide show just really filled my heart and I wanted to share it with you. Thank you to all our troops for all you do. Please take a moment and let them know you are with them. A card, a little note from home, means so much. Click Here

 

   ON AIR

Thank you WDHC 92.9FM in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, for playing OPRY SHOW ON THE RADIO. The song is an orginial from Elaini's album " From the Heart " released with Jim McCoy's Troubadour Records.

 MUSIC AND READING

A country Christmas at Jim McCoy's Troubadour Music Park, Dec. 21st 2008, was the launch of Elaini's Music and Reading inititive for children. Music and Reading are two of the things Elaini enjoy's most and she wants to help bring this to other children. Thank you to all our wonderful friends and elves for helping make this possible. Jim, Elaini, Eddie the Elf, and Santa was there to meet everyone and give out toys and books to the kids. We were so insprired by the all the smiles that we will be expanding this for 2009 to include more venues and locations. We will be begin adding the dates in November for the start of the Christmas season.  As one little boy said, and touched our hearts, "Merry Christmas Santa Claus!"