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Today’s Email Announcements

1) Watauga Community Band to Perform in Blowing Rock on Sunday

The Watauga Community Band will perform its last outdoor concert of the season at the Rotary Gazebo, in Blowing Rock Park, Sunday, October 11.  The show begins at 4pm. The band, under the direction of Steve Frank, will perform a variety of popular music, from TV themes to 1960’s Rock and Roll. A small group of band members will perform some Oktoberfest tunes, as well. This event is free, and all are welcome to attend.

2) Purchase Merrell Footwear at Mast General from Oct. 14-31 to Feed Local Kids

If you could do one thing that would improve a child’s self-esteem, help facilitate better behavior, and increase his or her learning potential, wouldn’t you do it? It is easy. Just make sure that the child is not hungry. One in five children are food insecure, meaning they don’t know where their next meal is coming from.

Merrell Footwear and Mast General Store are teaming up with the Hunger and Health Coalition to provide Food for Kids. For each pair of Merrell footwear purchased from October 14 until 31 at the Mast Stores in Boone and Valle Crucis, Merrell will donate funds to fill a backpack with food for the weekend.

The Health and Hunger Coalition’s Backpack Program is a collaboration with public schools in the food bank’s service area. Teachers watch for signs that a student may be food insecure – signs like hoarding food in the cafeteria, taking food from other children’s trays, or even scavenging food from trashcans to eat later or over the weekend. Once identified, these students are given backpacks filled with easily-prepared food for the weekend, enough to feed themselves and any siblings that may be at home. Backpacks are returned on Monday morning to be refilled.

Teachers report better participation, self-esteem, and behavior as a result of the Food for Kids backpack program.

“Merrell believes in the importance of giving a child a good foundation to grow, learn, and just be a kid,” said Fred Martin, president of Mast General Store. “We are proud to have vendor partners that take an interest in helping us address some of the human needs in our communities.”

While hunger is a complicated social issue, it’s not hard or expensive to help. Literally, any donation amount can make a difference. At the Health and Hunger Coalition, they can turn $1 into seven meals. In addition to Merrell’s contribution, the Mast Store will be accepting contributions in change jars to help the Food for Kids program even more.

For more information about how you can help fight hunger in your community, visit www.hungerandhealthcoalition.com.

3) Sock Hop at Watauga Lake Winery on Oct. 17 to Celebrate Thunder Road Wine Trail

Join us at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 17th as our state representative, Timothy Hill, cuts the ribbon and formally announces that Watauga Lake Winery is part of Tennessee’s newest wine trail, “Thunder Road”.   The new wine trail spans from the Knoxville Area “Thunder Road” all the way to “Copperhead Road” in Butler.  The trail consists of six wineries along a trail that is rich in history.  Visit www.ThunderRoadWineTrail.com to learn the story of the days of moonshine running in Appalachia.

The Watauga Lake Winery celebration will host the Johnson County Cruisers and their  vintage automobiles including a 1957 Corvette.  There will be music, food, and of course, wine-tasting.

THE CELEBRATION WILL CONTINUE SATURDAY EVENING

BEGINNING AT 6:30 P.M. THE GYM OF THE OLD BIG DRY RUN SCHOOL (NOW WATAUGA LAKE WINERY) WILL BE ROCKIN’ AND ROLLIN’ WITH THE SOUNDS OF THE 50’S, 60’S AND 70’S WITH AN OLD FASHIONED “SOCK HOP”.

ROLL UP THOSE SHIRT SLEEVES AND GET OUT THE POODLE SKIRTS AND SADDLE SHOES!  WE WILL BE TWISTING THE NIGHT AWAY!

Call 423-768-0345 for more information and reservations for the “sock hop”.

Watauga Lake Winery

6952 Big Dry Run Road

Butler, TN  37640

4) Final Ranger Programs of the Season on Blue Ridge Parkway

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Cone Manor – Milepost 294

10:30 am – Informal Upstairs Tour at Cone Manor

From 10:30-12:30, the second floor of Cone Manor will be open for a do-it-yourself tour. Rangers will be on hand to answer questions.

Saturday October 17, 2015

Cone Manor – Milepost 294

10:00, 11:00, 2:00, 3:00 -Upstairs Tours at Cone Manor

Ranger led tours of the second floor of the former home of Moses and Bertha Cone. Tour is approximately 45 minutes long and reservations are required. To reserve a tour: call 828-295-3782 or sign up at the NPS information desk at the Manor House. Reservations are accepted beginning at 10:00am Friday for the upcoming weekend only. No advance reservations, please.

Julian Price Campground Amphitheater – Milepost 296          

7:00 p.m. – Apples and Ghosts

The last evening program of the year will celebrate things autumnal.   Come munch on an heirloom apple, learn its history, and then finish the evening with a ghost tale or two.

                                               Approximately 45 minutes in length

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Cone Manor – Milepost 294

10:00, 11:00, 2:00, 3:00 -Upstairs Tours at Cone Manor

Ranger led tours of the second floor of the former home of Moses and Bertha Cone. Tour is approximately 45 minutes long and reservations are required. (See Saturday above)

ALL PROGRAMS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Special thanks to Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, Eastern National, and FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway for their financial support of these programs