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Today’s Email Announcements

Blue Ridge Parkway Ranger Programs Aug. 1-7

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Cone Manor – Milepost 294

10:30 am – Informal Upstairs Tour at Cone Manor

From 10:30-12:00, the second floor of Cone Manor will be open for a do-it-yourself tour. Rangers will be on hand to answer questions. 

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Cone Manor – Milepost 294

10:30– Children’s Hour

Activities may include storytelling, traditional games, and/or hands on simple crafts. An adult or older responsible attendee must stay with children in order for them to participate (best suited for ages 4 – 12)

Friday, August 5, 2015

Cone Manor – Milepost 294

10:30 am – Informal Upstairs Tour at Cone Manor

From 10:30-12:00, the second floor of Cone Manor will be open for a do-it-yourself tour. Rangers will be on hand to answer questions.

Saturday, August 6, 2016

Cone Manor – Milepost 294

11:00 am -Upstairs Guided Tour at Cone Manor

Ranger led tour of the second floor of the former home of Moses and Bertha Cone. See Sunday below for details.

Grandfather Mountain – Milepost 302

10:30- 12:00 – Bears

Stop by the ranger table at Milepost 302 to learn more about the fascinating and fearsome black bear.

Cone Manor – Milepost 294

1:30 pm – Informal Upstairs Tour at Cone Manor

From 1:30-3:00, the second floor of Cone Manor will be open for a do-it-yourself tour. Rangers will be on hand to answer questions.

 Sunday, August 7, 2016

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.

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

ASU to Test Campus Emergency Siren Aug. 3

Campus emergency siren test to be conducted Aug. 3 

By: Kesha Williams

BOONE – Appalachian State University will test its campus siren warning system at 11:55 a.m.on Wednesday, Aug. 3.

Examples of the tones that are used in an emergency or during tests can be heard online at http://em.emergency.appstate.edu/siren-warning-system.

Appalachian uses the hi/low tone for emergencies, discontinuous air horn for tests of the system and the alert tone for all-clear signal.

For more information about the university’s AppState ALERT voice/text/e-mail notification system, visit http://emergency.appstate.edu.

The siren tests are conducted on the first Wednesday of the month. Scheduled dates for Appalachian’s upcoming tests are Sept. 7, Oct. 5, Nov. 2 and Dec. 7.

About Appalachian
Appalachian State University, in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The transformational Appalachian experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and embrace diversity and difference. As one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina system, Appalachian enrolls about 18,000 students, has a low faculty-to-student ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.

Grandfather Mountain Camera Clinic Returns Aug. 13-14

Amateur and professional photographers can now register for the Grandfather Mountain Camera Clinic, a two-day seminar that offers presentations from outstanding photojournalists and opportunities for participants to improve their skills.

The clinic, set for Aug. 13 and 14, also allows participants the rare prospect of photographing scenic Grandfather Mountain at dawn and dusk and chances to network with others interested in the craft.

The 2016 speakers include:

– Nick Oza, staff photojournalist at the Arizona Republic and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service as part of the Biloxi Sun Herald’s coverage of Hurricane Katrina;
– Marie Freeman, chief photographer at Appalachian State University, freelance photographer and winner of 14 NCPA photography awards;
– Mark Dolejs, Durham, N.C.-based freelance photographer and winner of the NCPA Hugh Morton Award;
– Grant Halverson, celebrated sports photographer, graphic designer and multimedia producer, based in Durham, N.C.

The Camera Clinic was originally organized in 1952 by the late Hugh Morton, developer of Grandfather Mountain and a distinguished photographer.

“The Camera Clinic is definitely one of the highlights of the year for those who love not only photography, but shooting at Grandfather Mountain,” said Frank Ruggiero, director of marketing and communications for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, the nonprofit that oversees the Linville travel attraction. “Even those outside the photojournalism field will find these presentations enlightening and educational.”

Admission to the event is free for working photojournalists and active members of the N.C. Press Photographers Association. Admission for all others is $50 and includes a buffet dinner on Saturday.

Online registration opened July 13 at grandfather.com. Anyone wishing to secure a spot must purchase a $50 pass online; the charge will be refunded to those who show valid press credentials or an NCPPA membership card at check-in.

A discounted two-day admission ticket is available for $30 for guests of Clinic participants who wish to enjoy the park but do not plan to attend the seminars. This ticket allows guests to come and go as they please Aug. 13 and 14. Guests may also purchase tickets for theSaturday buffet dinner for $10.

Basic campsites are available in the Grandfather Mountain Woods Walk Picnic Area for those participating in the clinic.

For more information, visit http://www.grandfather.com/events/grandfather-mountain-amateur-and-professional-camera-clinic/.

The not-for-profit Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation strives to inspire conservation of the natural world by helping guests explore, understand and value the wonders of Grandfather Mountain. For more information, call(800) 468-7325, or plan a trip at www.grandfather.com.

Red Cross Blood Drive at the Library Aug. 5

August 5th, 2016 – Watauga County Public Library – Meeting Room

The Watauga County Public Library will be hosting a Blood Drive with the American Red Cross on Friday, August 5th from 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM.

To schedule an appointment, please call the Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767 or go online tohttp://www.redcrossblood.org/ and enter the zip code ”28607” and select ”Watauga County Library” to schedule yourself.