Thursday's Internet Edition, September 02, 2010.

“It’s a summer bash or whatever you want to call it,” city marketing director Jacob Fetty said.

Fetty said the dates of Aug. 20-22 seemed to work out for the various events that were put together in random fashion.

One of the events will be a free downtown concert on Friday, Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. featuring The Norris Brothers Band from Cottageville. The city has staged similar concerts in recent years, including two last summer.

The Norris Brothers Band plays classic rock as well as original music. They have opened for acts like Eddie Money, Steve Wariner, Kathy Mattea, Restless Heart and Waylon Jennings.

“They have an interesting mix that everybody’s going to like,” Fetty said. “What’s going to be cool is they bring lights, smoke and TV screens. It’s going to be a show. It’s for real.”

Writers from the region will come to town Friday-Sunday, Aug. 20-22 for “Courting the Inner Artist,” a weekend retreat for women writers. Baraka Bethany Elihu of Athens, Ga., will lead the event. She has a master’s degree in counseling psychology and is trained in herbalism, homeopathy, phoenix rising yoga therapy and is a certified life coach and doula.

Elihu has written a book, “Birthing Ourselves Into Being.”

“The weekend intensive will guide you through experiential and written exercises to tap the deep well of your sparkling inner creative waters,” publicity material for the event states.

Cost for the weekend is $315 before July 21 and $345 after that date. The price includes lodging at local bed and breakfast inns and all weekend workshops. Those who do not require lodging will pay a $145 fee.

“This came to be pretty suddenly,” Fetty said. “I know the lady doing the retreat and that she was looking for a place. She was considering Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee. I told her she should come up here and check this out.”

Several people have signed up thus far, Fetty said, adding that he expects participation to near the maximum of 12 to 15.

“We’re trying to do something new and different here,” he said. “We’ve done a lot of the same things. We’re going to try this on for size and see how it fits.”

The other event in Spencer that weekend will be the annual Heart Walk, which raises funds for the American Heart Association. The walk is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 21 in the courthouse square area, a move from its traditional location at the Ambrosio Walking Path at Roane General Hospital.