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Email Announcements Received Today: See What’s Going On Around The Community

1) Newland Business Association Holds Second Annual Avery Chamber After Hours Sept. 9

The Newland Business Association and the Town of Newland are happy to invite the public, along with business and community leaders, to attend Newland’s second annual Avery County Chamber After Hours networking event to be held Tuesday, Sept. 9 from 5:30-7 p.m. This is an opportunity for residents and business owners to greet and meet their neighbors at The Mason Jar Cafe located at 151 Cranberry Street in downtown Newland. Everyone can gather for local flavors featuring free foods, wine tastings and delicious treats provided by The Mason Jar, Linville Falls Winery, Kaye’s Kitchen, Shady Lawn Restaurant and Little River Mercantile and Bakery. Special entertainment will be provided throughout the event by local favorite Tom Pillon – singer and guitarist extraordinaire – featuring hits by the Beatles, Jimmy Buffet, the Eagles, Peter, Paul and Mary, Doc Watson, Elvis, Dylan, James Taylor and many more. This is one of the new cooperative get-togethers held during the year that combines the membership talents of the Avery County Chamber of Commerce and the Newland Business Association. And there is much to celebrate about Avery County this September. The last of the free Friday night Newland Riverwalk Summertime Concerts will have just concluded as we get ready for an exciting fall and winter in Newland and Avery County. We had a great serious of musical groups this year. So now all of the event planners and event sponsors can relax and enjoy themselves and share their memories of a great summer. Everyone who attends will be on the receiving end of fun and excitement associated with these two great organizations. If you are a county resident and want to connect with some of the concert staff members and organizers, this party is your chance to do so. For more information about participating in the After Hours event or about joining these sponsoring organizations, contact the Avery Chamber of Commerce at 828-898-5605 and the Newland Business Association at 843-457-2736.

2) Howard Campbell and the Art of Woodrow P. Hill at The Art Cellar

Howard Campbell, also known as Woodrow P. Hill, began his life in Oklahoma. Growing up an only child for the first eight years of his life left Howard very easily amused with himself and his surroundings. Many of his “adventures” as a child were where his artwork was derived as well as the landscape he was surrounded by. Howard moved to the mountains of North Carolina from Florida in 1977 where his paintings started to reflect life in North Carolina. As well as a painter, Howard was also an avid antiques collector and used many of his findings in his work. This exhibition will feature many paintings from private collections as well as a meticulously planned and executed book entitled, “Howard Campbell and the Art of Woodrow P. Hill” written by his brother John Campbell and close friend Jason Clodfelter. This book will be available for purchase at the Art Cellar Gallery.

3) Johann Receives National Science Foundation Grant for Computer Science Research

A National Science Foundation grant totalling $377,083 has been awarded to Professor Patricia Johann in Appalachian State University’s Department of Computer Science. The three-year award will fund Johann’s research in an area of com[utational science called relational parametricity. Relational parametricity is a key technique computer scientists use to prove that computer programs are correct, or do what they are intended to do, Johann explained. Johann has published extensively on relational parametricity and is considered a world expert on the subject. Her research interests include the mathematical foundations of computing. She has been working in the area of theoretical computer science for nearly 25 years and on relational parametricity for nearly 15 with computer scientists. She will carry out this research in collaboration with researchers from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Copenhagen. She began her research on the particular aspect of relational parametricity that is the focus of the NSF grant while at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland, where she was a professor of computer science. Johann is the principal investigator on the grant that will allow her to further develop the theory of relational parametricity. Johann takes an approach to relational parametricity that is based on the categorical semantics of programming languages, meaning that they focus on what the constructs of programming languages mean, rather than how they are written. “Categorical” means that they give their programming languages meaning by using a branch of mathematics known as category theory, which highlights mathematical structure. Funds from the grant will provide two months of research salary for Johann and her student researchers during three summers and support research visits with collaborators.

4) September Programs at Grandfather Mountain State Park

Who Cooks for You?: This program will take place on Monday, Sept. 1 from 7-8 p.m. at the Boone Fork Parking Area. Have you ever been outside at night and heard a sound that sounds like it’s asking the question, “who cooks for you?” If so, you’re hearing a Barred Owl. Join ranger Sicard for a 30 minute up close look at this commonly heard own and to learn about some of the neat features this owl has. Please dress appropriately for the weather conditions. Please no pets. For more information please call Andy Sicard at the Park Office.

Edible, Medicinal and Toxic Plants of Appalachia: This program will take place on Friday, Sept. 5 from 5-6 p.m. at the Profile Trail Parking Lot. The wilds of the Southern Appalachians can be useful to those knowledgeable in woodcraft and a curse to those who consume a misidentified plant. Join a ranger for a stroll through the woods and learn some science and folklore behind our botanical bounty. We will not be collecting or consuming plants during this program. All ages are welcome.

Camouflage: This program will be held on Sunday, Sept. 7, from 2-3 p.m. at the Boone Fork Parking Area. Attendees will lean how animals use camouflage in the wild. After the presentation, attendees will get to try to find several animals in the area where the program is held.

Twilight Hike: This program will be held on Friday, Sept. 18 from 7-9 p.m. at the Profile Parking Lot. Join a park ranger for an evening stroll through the Southern Appalachian Forest and see the woods come to life after the sun sets. Experience the park from a different perspective and lean about nocturnal wildlife. Participants must bring flashlights or headlamps and are encouraged to wear hiking boots.

Moth Madness: This program will be held on Saturday, Sept. 20 from 8-10 p.m. at Lowes Foods Parking Lot. 2014 is the Year of the Lepidoptera for North Carolina State Parks. Lepidoptera is the scientific name for moths and butterflies and means scale wing. Moths are just as beautiful and varied as their butterfly cousins. Join a ranger for some moth madness as we turn on the lights after dark and try to lure in some moths for observation and identification.

Volunteer Trail Work Day: This program will be held on Saturday, Sept. 20 from 9:30 a.m.-3;30 p.m. Join the park staff for a day of trail maintenance and get a feel for what goes into managing a highly popular hiking destination. Volunteers will learn how to safely and effectively use tools, be shown sustainable trail design techniques and become familiar with trail labor. Work will be based on experience and skill level of volunteers and will range from easier low level physical activity to advanced, highly physical trail construction, This volunteer day is suitable for adults and children above 12 years of age. All volunteers under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian present.

National Public Lands Day Clean Up: This program will be held on Saturday, Sept. 27 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Lowes Foods Parking Lot. To celebrate National Public Lands Day, we will be cleaning up a section of the park land. This volunteer day is suitable for adults and children above 12 years of age. All volunteers under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian present. Volunteers should be dressed in appropriate clothing for outdoor work: bring work gloves, wear closed toed shoes and bring food and water for refreshment during the day.

National Public Lands Day Hike: This program will be held on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Join a ranger for a guided hike on the Nuwati Trail. Please wear appropriate clothing.

5) Baha’i Devotional Meeting Held Aug 31

There will be a Baha’i devotional meeting at 11 a.m. until noon on Sunday, Aug. 31, in Stony Fork. The theme of the meeting will be “All Things Made New.” All are welcome. For more information and directions call 268-2191.

6) Boone Resident Named One of Top 5 40 Under 40

Patrick A. Reese of Boone was named one of the top 5 40 under 40 by ASCP. The top five were selected from among 40 pathologists, pathology residents and laboratory professionals under the age of 40 who were named to ASCP’s inaugural 40 under 40 program for their significant contributions to the profession and the leadership they have demonstrated within each of their workplaces. Patrick Reese is a laboratory manager for Boone Dermatology Clinic PA in Boone. He studied Biology at the University of North Carolina – Greensboro and holds a bachelor’s degree in science. He also earned his QIHC (Qualified in Immunohistochemistry), and is certified as a histotechnician and histotechnologist. Reese began working in histology in 2010 at Greensboro Pathology Associates in NC as an embedding technician and conducted several NSH webinars for continuing education for labs across the country. In 2012, he joined GPA as Histology Supervisor. The same year, he designed a histopathology laboratory for a dermatology practice in NC and opened the laboratory in 2013. He was authored policies and selected equipment and serves as Quality Management Coordinator of pathology laboratory operations. In 2014, he joined the National Society for Histotechnology Health and Safety Committee.

6) Mind and Consciousness Learning and Discussion Series Held August – October at Watauga County Library

Join Dr. Ming Singer for a multi-part learning opportunity focusing on the mind, the science of the brain and consciousness. All are welcome and this session is free and open to the public. Topics will include Memory, Healing, Brain Disorders; The Mind at Journey’s End; The Creative Mind; Language and “The Silent Language”; Mysticism; Making Decisions; Information and Electronic Technologies of the Mind and Emotion. Ming Singer has been a full-time university academic for more than 35 years. Her academic qualifications include B.Sc. (Hons.) (NTU, Taiwan), PhD. (UNE, Australia), and Post-Doctorate (VUW, New Zealand). Her teaching and research interests are in the areas of Experimental Neuro-Cognitive Psychology and Applied Work-Organizational Psychology.