Oddly, the lost note mentioned at the top of last week’s column was for a business I had already decided to track down for more information.

If you’ve driven into Ashland from the Cannonsburg area recently you may have noticed the new signs and a small strobe light directing you to visit a familiar business along U.S. 60 known as The Old Log Cabin.

The aged cabin is now Log Cabin Primitives, under the care and management of family members Sue and Doug Griffith, Doug and Teresa Griffith, Lee Ann Moore and Teresa Griffith-Caudill.

Moore said the shop features a variety of new and antique furniture, candles, potpourri, holiday items “and a ghost.”

The recently opened business also serves lunch on Friday and Saturday, leaning toward old-fashioned and home-cooked favorites including chicken and dumplings, beef and vegetable soup, potato cheese soup, soup beans, spaghetti and lasagna as well as a long list of baked goods including cream pies, pumpkin rolls, blackberry cake and red velvet cake, all baked by Sue and Teresa.

A specialty of the house is cornbread, Moore said, explaining her mom makes it “good and crusty” using a tried and true recipe and the iron-skillet method. They also offer a variety of hand crafted confections including fudge, as well as “sweets trays” for gifts or get togethers.

“We can make anything,” Moore added, praising her mother and sister-in-law’s kitchen skills.

Log Cabin Primitives is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday — holiday hours will be announced soon. For more information, call (606) 585-0275.

Now open

The Gift Mill is now open at Kyova Tri-State Mall, offering preassembled and made-to-order gift baskets and homemade candy.

The Gift Mill is inside the mall across from Custom Metal Creations and EJ’s Guitar & Music Shop. The shop will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call (606) 929-9230.

The mall, along U.S. 60 in Cannonsburg, also announced the opening of Neon Links — an 18-hole miniature golf facility with glow-in-the-dark balls, obstacles and putting courses. Located near RJ Kahuna’s Sports Bar & Grill and The Treasure Chest, Neon Links is also open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call (606) 585-0035.

In the finals

I received an e-mail from Mike Grinstead, who labeled himself “not a PR guy, just a proud husband,” while trying to get the word out about his wife, Laura Johnson Grinstead. Both are graduates (classes of ’88 and ’89) of Paul G. Blazer High School.

He wrote, “She is one of 25 finalists from thousands who participated in Mutual of Omaha’s 2010 TV commercial campaign titled “Aha Moments.” She lives in Louisville, where she owns Be Media and is the Publisher/Editor of a magazine for women called Underwired. Laura is a true inspiration to many in Louisville and has a fanatical following of women readers who can’t wait to pick up the newest issue of the monthly free publication. Visit www.ahamoment.com and see for yourself. She is the one titled ‘Writing For Herself.’ Ten winners will be selected from a nationwide vote going on now through Saturday. The winners will run in a national TV ad campaign to run in 2010. She needs everyone’s votes to ensure her a shot at the big prize.”

Check it out for yourself and give the local gal a vote if you like what you see.

Need growth?

Those who need some fresh ideas to help their business grow may want to pre-register for a Tuesday workshop by Jason Hager and Dave Beam. The session, from 1 to 3:30 p.m., will focus on business growth through referrals and relationships.

The workshop, at the Jesse Stuart Foundation on the corner of 17th Street and Winchester Avenue in Ashland, is free of charge. To register or for more information, visit www.kysbdc.ecenterdirect/conferencelist.asp or call (606) 329-8011.

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2651.