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Email Announcements We Are Receiving Today: See What’s Going On Around The Community

1) Appalachian Alumni Weekend at Beech Mountain Resort March 1-2

Appalachian Alumni Weekend (March 1-2 2014) at Beech Mountain Resort, coordinated by the High Country Appalachian Alumni Chapter, features discounts for alumni and their families on lift tickets, ski and snowboard rental, local hotel accommodations and more! After you’ve enjoyed the excellent skiing and a charming Alpine Village filled with shops and restaurants, you’ll have the opportunity to socialize and network with your fellow Appalachian Alumni at our Saturday evening social at The Beech Tree Bar and Grill. By registering in advance (RSVP date of 2.26.14) your name and your guest names, if applicable, will be included on the Appalachian Alumni Weekend Reservations List at the Beech Mountain Resort Group Sales Office and enable you to receive the special rates as noted above.

2) Mabel School Counselor Recognized as Semifinalist for National School Counselor of the Year

Mabel School Counselor Christina (Christy) Welch has been recognized by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) as a semifinalist for the title of 2014 National School Counselor of the Year.  Mabel Principal Mark Hagaman praised Welch as “a highly professional school counselor who is completely committed to helping all students succeed. She is a valuable member of our team at Mabel and a great source of support for our students and families.” Mrs. Welch is National Board Certified in school counseling and has been school counselor at Mabel for 12 years. 

3) Be a Sweetheart and Feed the Hungry

On Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 8 and 9 Mast General Store is partnering with the Hunger and Health Coalition to help fill its larder with food. On the weekend prior to Valentine’s Day Mast Store will match each pound of candy purchased with a $1 donation to the Health and Hunger Coalition. A little can do a lot – each donated dollar purchases $7 in food for someone who is hungry. So, find your sweetheart’s favorite candy for Valentine’s Day and do something good for your community too. 

4) Tweetsie Railroad’s Season Passes Now Available

 

Before you hop aboard for the 2014 season, make sure to purchase your Tweetsie Railroad Golden Rail Season Passes. Pass holders will enjoy a full season of adventure from Wild West train journeys, amusement rides, live entertainment and the animals in the Deer Park, as well as free admission to all special events throughout the season, free parking on July 4th and discounts at other North Carolina family attractions. Golden Rail Season Passes are now available at a special rate of $80 for adults and $55 for children ages 3 through 12. After April 27, rates increase to $90 for adults and $65 for children. Children 2 and under are admitted free. Tweetsie will open its gates for its 57th season on April 11; the season will run through November 2. A 2014 Golden Rail Season Pass is the best and most economical way to experience all Tweetsie has to offer. This year¹s lineup of special events will include the return of many family favorites, like the July 4th Fireworks Extravaganza, Day Out With Thomas, SpongeBob SquarePants, K-9s in Flight Frisbee® Dogs and Tweetsie¹s Ghost Train® Halloween Festival. North Carolina¹s first theme park is also proud to announce two new additions to its entertainment lineup: four-time Grammy Award winner David Holt will treat guests to a one-day only solo performance in May; and the Cartoon Network¹s Scooby-Doo and Shaggy will greet guests for one special weekend in July. The entire family is in for a great time all season long aboard Tweetsie Railroad¹s historic steam-powered locomotives. Explore Tweetsie’s own Western town, tap your toes to live entertainment at the Tweetsie Palace, or take a turn on one of the many exciting rides. Journey high above the park via the chair lift to Miner¹s Mountain where you can pan for gold and meet the animals at the Deer Park Zoo. Don¹t miss out this limited-time only pricing: visit Tweetsie.com to purchase and print season passes at home. Guests looking to renew last year¹s season pass without waiting in line for a new card can easily do so by visiting Tweetsie¹s website or calling 1-877-TWEETSIE. Tweetsie Railroad will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays starting April 11, including Memorial Day Monday, and seven days a week from May 30 through August 17. The park returns to the weekend schedule from August 18 through November 2, including Labor Day Monday. The 2014 season ends Sunday, November 2. The park¹s regular hours are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., but will be open until 9:00 p.m. on July 4 for the Fireworks Extravaganza and July 5, 12, 19 and 26 for Cool Summer Nights. Daily admission to Tweetsie Railroad is $39 for adults and $26 for children ages 3 through 12. Children 2 and under are admitted free. The Ghost Train® Halloween Festival will take place Friday and Saturday nights September 26 through November 1 from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., with an admission price of $31 for adults and children. Tickets and Golden Rail Season Passes are available at Tweetsie.com.

5) 16th Annual Polar Plunge Held Feb. 20

Students, staff and others from Appalachian State University and the community will take a chilly plunge in the campus duck pond Feb. 20 to raise money for Special Olympics athletes in Watauga County. The event is sponsored by Watauga County law enforcement agencies and Watauga County Parks and Recreation. This is the 16th year the Polar Plunge has been held on campus. Last year, 142 individuals jumped into 38 degree water to raise $6,881. During the past 15 years, the event has raised more than $100,000 for Special Olympics Watauga County. Registration for this year’s event runs from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the site off Rivers Street, with the “plunge” beginning at 4 p.m. Registration is $25 per person or $20 per person for groups of five or more. Prizes will be awarded for the most extreme costume (male and female) and to the top fundraising group and individual. All participants will receive a Polar Plunge beach towel. For more information, contact Karon Poteat at Watauga County Parks and Recration at (828) 264-9511 or (keron.poteat@watgov.org