I woke up Monday morning in a panic. I glanced at the clock and saw the digital display read 7:37. 7:37??? 7:37!!!!!

HOW COULD I HAVE OVERSLEPT!! The final fencing needs to be put up — are there volunteers to help? Did all of the port-a-potty’s get delivered? Is the power hot for the Main stage? Why is no one answering me, is the battery dead on my radio?

As I spring from my bed, a sharp pain runs down my back and sweeps me right back to reality. Relieved, I see my knees are swollen, my feet are blistered, my lips chapped, and my face and neck are sunburned... My body bore the evidence I needed to know that I didn’t oversleep — the 2009 Deep Roots Festival had come and gone.

A smile forms on my face as I thought of all the other people waking up Monday morning with similar aches and pains.

All of Milledgeville is deservedly tired as we have finished celebrating another successful festival, our sixth. Despite a name change, everything went great — due mainly to a group of dedicated volunteers that sacrificed their time and shared their talents to help showcase our community for one special weekend.

As the (barbecue) smoke settles we will be able to see just how successful this year’s festival was in continuing Milledgeville Main Street/The Downtown Development Authority’s mission to revitalize our downtown commercial district — but before the echoes of laughter from 3,000 children subsides and the roar of muscle cars end, I would like to personally thank our committee chairs, or as they are often called, the “Red Shirts” because of the easily identified festival uniform — a red t-shirt.

The “Red Shirts” donate all of their time to see that each and every element of the event runs like clockwork. Without these people this event would not happen — they work non-stop for 20 hours the day of the event, but also work throughout the year to build a vibrant and bustling downtown: Tori Allen, gates; Mark Bell, security; Charles Cruey, logistics; Jack Graham, the “call me and I’ll get it done” guy; Angie Gheesling-McCommon, VIP area; Heather Holder, barbecue; Jimmy Holder, Main Stage/marketing; T.P. Holloman, Old Capitol Car Club, Open Car Show; Carry Jarrett, volunteer coordinator/ calming guru; Bernard Jarrett, official “what can I do next” guy; Phillip Joiner, Main Stage; Heather Kennedy, marketing/ Kids Zone; Iona Cruey-Pendergast, Main Stage/Green Room; Tara Peters, commercial corridor; Barry Reese, Mary Vinson Library Tiny Tot Land; Patty Rushin, merchandise; Alyssa Torchia, DRF headquarters/ event administration; Belinda Washleskly, VIP area/DRF headquarters; and Marylis Wolfgang, arts and crafts.

We have many other groups and individuals that we count on to always come through during our final push. The GCSU electricians, the City of Milledgeville, the Chamber of Commerce and the Development Authority.

Special thanks also go to Lindsey Hornsby and Terry Kennedy who continue to work like “Red Shirts” even though they hung theirs up last year! The committee and I really appreciate the support of the downtown merchants, churches, banks, the U.S. Post Office, GMC and GCSU.

Lastly, please thank our sponsors for which without their financial help none of this would be possible.

Three hundred-sixty three more days till DRF 2010, I need to remember “Chapstix” next year!

Frank Pendergast

Chairman DRF

Milledgeville