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Today’s Email Announcements

Concert Sunday Sept. 4 at St. Mary of the Hills

Some of the rising stars in the Music Department at Appalachian State University will present a concert on Sunday afternoon, September 4th, at 3 pm at St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church in Blowing Rock. The concert is free, the next in a series of concerts sponsored by the Friends of Music at St. Mary’s.

Four musicians will showcase their talents in what they’re terming a “Potpourri” of musical styles from the 17th to the 20th centuries. Rodney Ward with perform on the Lively-Fulcher organ, built just last year specifically for the space and worship style in the church – he has chosen Fete by Jean Langlais, and three pieces by Joseph Jongen. Pianist William Green will play three of the Transcendental Etudes by Franz Liszt, and two of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Etude Tableaux. Grayson Milholin, bass soloist with the St. Mary of the Hills choir, will perform songs by Handel, Poulenc, Finzi, and Vaughn Williams. And Violinist Chandler Fadero, will perform music by Bach, and the gorgeous Meditation from Thais by Jules Massenet.

Please join us for this very special concert in the nave of the church. St. Mary’s is on the corner of Main St. And Chestnut in Blowing Rock. You can keep up with all the performances and special services at the church by following ‘Music from St. Mary of the Hills’ on Facebook.

Michael McNally Named Director of North Carolina Center for Engineering Technologies

BOONE—The North Carolina Center for Engineering Technologies (NCCET) has hired Michael McNally as its new director. The center’s 55,000 square-foot facility, located in Hickory, provides facilities for applied research in engineering-related fields and serves as a conduit to baccalaureate education delivered by institutions in the the University of North Carolina system.

McNally replaces Dr. Sid Connor, who retired after leading the NCCET for eight years since its opening in 2008.

The NCCET resulted from a grassroots movement to replace outgoing textile and furniture industry skillsets with fields of study offered at the state universities related to science, technology and engineering. A collaborative effort of representatives from business, government and higher education, including Appalachian State University, established the center to meet the educational needs of area students and the occupational needs of area employers.

For the last decade, McNally has worked in community and economic development. His background includes serving as executive vice president of the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce. Prior positions include director of existing industry services for the Catawba County Economic Development Corporation and president and CEO of the Burke County Chamber of Commerce. He also served as a part-time instructor for Catawba Valley Community College. McNally earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from East Carolina University.

“I am excited about this opportunity to work for Appalachian State University in leading the NCCET,” McNally said. “This center will work with partner organizations and institutions in an effort to collaboratively meet the ever-evolving needs of our business community. We will provide top-flight facilities to educate and train our future workforce in engineering-related disciplines and we will continue to work with community colleges, industry leaders and entrepreneurs to provide assistance in bringing ideas and innovation to the global marketplace.

“Communities and businesses across the globe are experiencing difficulty in finding a highly trained, 21st century workforce,” McNally explained. “The more educated a region is the more success it will have in growing local businesses and recruiting new businesses. Therefore, it is imperative to offer the training needed to provide our citizens with the best opportunity to obtain these jobs and advance in their careers. The result of this work will be increased wages and a higher standard of living for everyone in the region.”

The western geographical region primarily served by NCCET has a large population and does not house a university offering four-year degrees in engineering or related fields. As a result, McNally said, the center works with institutions to help meet those education needs.

The facility’s laboratories and classrooms allow community college graduates who have earned an associate’s degree to enroll in select courses on a part-time basis. Credit hours earned from those courses can be transferred to one of the four-year institutions where those students can earn degrees.

In addition to educational opportunities for adults, the NCCET hosts summer engineering and robotics campus for elementary and middle school students, which are taught by area school teachers in collaboration with NCCET staff.

“At the center, we can help to be a bit of a catalyst or connector between students, schools and the business community,” said McNally. “We can strengthen that pipeline of students who desire post-secondary training in engineering related fields and ultimately provide area businesses the skilled labor that they need to be successful.”

For more information about the NCCET, visit http://nccet.appstate.edu/about-us.

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.

Brinegar Day: Find Your Family History Sept. 10

EVERY FAMILY HAS A STORY – LEARN HOW TO FIND YOURS

The National Park Service Celebrates the Life and Times of Carolyn and Martin Brinegar and the rich cultural heritage of the Blue Ridge Mountains on Saturday, September 10, from 10 am to 4 pm.

Every family has a story to tell – and to remember. The National Park Service will celebrate those stories at the Brinegar Celebration at the Brinegar Cabin on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors will be able to chat with members of local historical societies and meet descendants of Martin and Caroline Brinegar.  Ranger/historian Mike Ryan will give a presentation on collecting and preserving one’s own family and community’s history at 11 am and 1 pm.

Demonstrations of early Blue Ridge life will include flax processing, food preservation, spinning and dying. Come string some leather britches, meet a sheep or help stir the applebutter  – these activities are all free of charge. The FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway organization provides financial support for this program.  For more information on this Blue Ridge Parkway partner, contact 800-228-PARK (7275) or www.BlueRidgeFRIENDS.org.

Park Rangers are on duty at Brinegar Cabin Milepost 238 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through October presenting 20th Century cultural demonstrations. For more information or to schedule a special program, call the Doughton Park Interpretive Office at (336) 372-1947. ###

Final Weekend of the Summer at Beech Mountain Resort

Hi friends! End the summer season right with mile high yoga, live music, mountain biking, disc golf and good times!
 Our final day of the summer season is Sunday, September 4th
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LIVE MUSIC @ 5506′
 
ALL OUT BLUES BAND
Saturday, September 3
2:30 – 5:30 pm
 
 
More than just blues, this group is the result of Matt, Rich, and Dan playing music that resonates with all of them. The great stuff we grew up with, and the best of today’s songwriters. Music stripped down to the basics of drums, guitars, bass. It’s live, it’s raw, and it’s very, very real.
Featuring songs from
SRV  |  Albert Collins  |  Buddy Guy  |  Tom Petty  |  Band of Gypsies  |  Eric Clapton
John Mayer  |  Led Zeppelin  |  Kings of Leon  |  Bob Marley  |  Black Crowes  |  ZZ Top
and more!
Cost is $10 to ride the chairlift to access 5506′
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MILE HIGH YOGA
Saturday, September 3
10:30 – 11:30 am
 
The class is accessible by chairlift.  Tickets are $15 and can be purchased in Ski Beech Sports, located in the resort village.  Participants are asked to ride the chairlift between10:00 – 10:15 a.m.
Bring your own yoga mat!
Mile High Yoga takes place at 5,506 feet on the observation deck of the resort’s skybar.  Our mission is to provide a safe, friendly, soothing and unique atmosphere for all ability levels.
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EMPLOYMENOPPORTUNITIES
At Beech Mountain we are getting excited for the ski season and are looking for qualified applicants to join our team. Please come by the Administration Building and pick up an employment application M-F 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. or download one HERE. Beech Mountain Resort will be interviewing for the upcoming season starting in October.
CLICK HERE for more information on available positions.
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Fly a Kite a Mile High This Weekend at Beech Mountain
(The Kite Festival is located in the town of Beech Mountain, at the kite field, located next to the Brick Oven.)
A great sendoff to summer is Beech Mountain’s Mile High Kite Festival, Sept. 3-4. The annual festival, in its 14th year, encourages families to spend a relaxed Labor Day weekend in eastern America’s highest town.
Kite flying activities
take place both days in the kite field in the center of town adjacent to the Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria. At more than 5,000 feet in elevation, the meadow allows participants to fly their kites a mile above sea level.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. On Saturday, everyone may practice his or her kite-flying skills. Then on Sunday, the experts get in on the fun. Both the Richmond Air Force Kite Club and the Wings Across Carolina Kiting and Okra Society (WACKOS) will give kite-flying demonstrations.
Each day, the first 150 children (12 and younger) will receive complimentary kites. The wide, flat kites in a half-tunnel shape are easier to fly than traditional diamond-shaped kites. Kids can decorate them and add tails.
Toll Free  800-438-2093
Local  828-387-2011