1) Renewable Energy Workshops Begin April 11 at Appalachian
A series of workshops focusing on renewable energy and other topics will be held beginning in April at Appalachian State University. The workshops are sponsored by the Appalachian Energy Center. Continuing education credits will be available. Information about registration, fees and programs is available online at energy.appstate.edu/programs/workshops.
- April 11 – 2012 North Carolina Energy Code Training
- April 26 – Best Practice Code-Compliant PV System Design
- May 2 – NC 2012 Commercial Energy Code Training
- May 12-16 – Introduction to Photovoltaic System Design and Construction
- May 30-31 – Community-based Landfill Gas Development Workshop
- May 30 – The Next Generation of Housing – CE for REALTORS
- June 7 – Distributed Wind Energy Workshop
- June 13-14 – Photovoltaic System Fundamentals
- June 27 – NC 2012 Residential Energy Code Training
- Additional workshops focusing on solar thermal water heating, microhydro system design and installation and building efficiency and indoor environmental quality will be offered August through October.
2) Second Annual High Country Horticultural Symposium Slated for June 7
The second annual Horticultural Symposium sponsored by Appalachian State University’s College of Arts and Sciences will be held June 7. The theme is “Designing Your Garden” and will feature noted speakers in addition to a tour of the Daniel Boone Native Gardens. The day-long event is designed for local gardeners and homeowners. The program is sponsored in conjunction with the Daniel Boone Native Gardens and the Garden Club of North Carolina. The program runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes continental breakfast, catered lunch, free parking and a tour of the Daniel Boone Native Gardens. Pre-registration is required. Register online by April 30 and price is $59 per person. Registration after April 30 is $70. Seating is limited to 100 participants. Registration deadline is June 2. Register online at conferences-camps.appstate.edu or mail in registrations to Horticultural Symposium, Appalachian State University, PO Box 34042 Boone NC 28608.
3) Grandfather Mountain’s Sprite the Deer Dies
For the second time in as many weeks, Grandfather Mountain has lost one of its beloved animal residents. Sprite, a 9-year-old doe living in the animal habitats, died Friday at an Asheville veterinary clinic after a bout of pneumonia. The Grandfather Mountain habitat staff noticed Thursday that Sprite was weak and resting inside the deer barn. Her breathing was unsteady and her face appeared swollen. On Friday, the staff shuttled Sprite to the office of Dr. Lee Bolt in Asheville. The veterinarian began exploring the possibility that Sprite had an abscessed tooth or jaw injury and put her under anesthesia to examine and treat the deer. Because of her weakness, Sprite was unable to pull out of the anesthesia and the decision was made to humanely put the deer to rest to ease her suffering. Diagnostic tests revealed the deer was suffering from pneumonia that had lessened her lung capacity. “With wild animals, they just never really show many signs until they’re close to death,” said Emma Schlagal, assistant habitats curator at Grandfather Mountain. Sprite was born at Grandfather Mountain on May 26, 2004 to a deer named Vega. Due to state regulations that went into effect after she as born, she could not be released into the wild as intended. Sprite earned her name due to her petite statue and slender face. She was also recognizable by her single “button” antler on the left side. While antlers are rare among female deer, they occasionally form in does with high levels of testosterone or for other reasons. Sprite grew and shed her velvety antler stub every year, according to habitat staff. This is the second recent loss on Grandfather Mountain. On March 7, Grandfather Mountain’s opossum, Fern, was humanely put to rest after a large tumor was discovered in her abdomen. Sprite is survived by her mother, Vega, twin sister August and another doe from a separate family group, Fauna. All are white-tailed deer born on Grandfather Mountain.
4) Lectures on Mountain Regions of Ukraine and Spain Presented March 26
Scholars from Ukraine an Spain will present lectures on mountain regions in their home countries on Wednesday, March 26 from 2-5 p.m. in Plemmons Student Union’s Table Rock Room at Appalachian State University. The final lecture will compare literary representations of Andalusia and Appalachia. The lectures are sponsored by the Center for Appalachian Studies, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Office of International Education and Development. The event is free and open to the public. Following opening remarks and introductions by Dr. Katherine Ledford, program director of the Center for Appalachian Studies, Dr. Iryna Galushchak will lecture on “The Ukrainian Carpathians: Strategic Goals for Economic Development in a Depressed Highland Region,” beginning at 2:25 p.m. The talk addresses the depressed economic conditions in the highlands using the latest available government data. Communities in the highlands currently suffer from high unemployment, low wages, high rates of outmigration, and lack of modern infrastructure. After summarizing the social conditions in the mountains, the presenter will outline possible strategic goals for economic development, which could include a variety of local, regional, state, and even international partnerships. At 2:40 p.m., the talk “Seasons of Life: Traditions, Holidays, and Customs in the Carpathian Highlands,” will be presented by Dr. Nadia Lutsan. The talk focuses on folkloric celebrations presently practiced in mountain communities. Despite economic hardships, centuries-old cultural traditions are still found in many highland communities. The presentation will document these practices over the seasonal round, from spring Easter celebrations to Christmas caroling and local “Vertep” performances at year’s end. Dr. Oleksandra Khallo will present “Highland Healers: The Past and Present Use of Folk Medicicne in the Ukrainian Carpathians” beginning at 3 p.m. The talk addresses the use of traditional plants and herbs in the daily treatment of illnesses and injuries in the Carpathians. While folk medicine has evolved considerably in the highlands, many in the mountains still see the use of natural remedies as a primary method of treating sickness. Some mountain teachers even incorporate this knowledge into their course curriculum and place locally gathered “phyto-medicines” in school infirmaries. The presentations conclude at 4 p.m. with a comparative analysis between the literatures of Andalusia and Appalachia titled “Appalachia and Andalusia as the Mountain South: Discovered, Exploited and Stereotyped,” presented by Dr. Carmen Rueda. Appalachia and Andalusia are two mountain regions in the south of the U.S. and of Europe, respectively, which share striking similarities. Authors like Mary Noailles Murfree and John Fox, Jr., based their works of fiction on superficial impressions of Appalachia and mountaineers, creating stereotypes that persist today. But across the Atlantic, authors like Washington Irving, George Borrow, Françoise-René Chateubriand, Prosper Merimée and Alexandre Dumas, to name only a few, also canonized otherness in Andalusia by exploiting stereotypical images in popular literary works.
5) Tony Award-winning Musical “Spring Awakening” Opens March 29
The eight-time Tony Award-winning musical Spring Awakening with music by Duncan Sheik and Book by Steven Sater will be presented March 29-30 at Appalachian State University. It is the High Country premiere of the pop rock musical that stormed Broadway in 2007. It is being produced by the Appalachian Musical Theatre Ensemble, the campus organization that previously staged successful productions of “Rent,” “Godspell,” and “The Rocky Horror Show.” Performances will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the Blue Ridge Ballroom of Plemmons Student Union on the Appalachian campus. Tickets are $8 for students and $10 for the general public if purchased in advance. Tickets are being sold at Plemmons Student Union ticket desk Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. For ticket information, call 828-262-3030. Tickets will also be sold at the door beginning one hour prior to each performance at a cost of $10. Because this production contains mature subject matter and partial nudity, tickets will be sold only to audience members 18 years of age and older, with photo identification required for admission.
6) Boone Summer Festival to Feature Rickie Lee Jones
Two-time Grammy Award winner Rickie Lee Jones tops an eclectic mix of national and regional musical acts set to appear at Sirens on the Mountain, a two day celebration of women in the arts in Boone June 20-21. Spanning genres from Pop to Bluegrass, Soul to Gypsy and Folk to Jazz and incorporating the artistry of dozens of innovative and talented craftspeople, the festival promises to provide something to entice everyone. Bets known for her signature rambling, breathy vocal delivery, layered atop jazzy pop instrumentation, Rickie Lee Jones has remained an easily identifiable worldwide favorite for more than three decades. Among her most popular works are hits “Chuck-E’s in Love” and “Satellites,” as well as her Grammy winning 1989 interpretation of “Makin’ Whoopee,” on which she collaborated with Dr. John. Full-weekend and single-day tickets are available for the festival which includes both legendary Detroit soul vocalist Bettye LaVette and World Music folkstars Rising Appalachia atop its bill. Additional main stage acts include Shannon Whitworth, Gigi Dover, Underhill Rose, Michelle Malone and Melissa Reaves. Laura Blackley, Red Leg Husky, Amythyst Kiah, Sole Scheafer and Sam O round out the line-up. For more information visit www.sirensonthemountain.com.
7) Andy Ball’s Community Office Hours at Appalachian Mountain Brewery
Mayor Andy Ball announced this morning that his community office hours will be held Tuesday, March 25 from 6-8 p.m. at Appalachian Mountain Brewery located behind Bojangles. Join Andy at a different local business and different time each week for a conversation on any topic, no appointment necessary. Walk-in office hours will be Wednesday, March 26 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at Boone Town Hall located on West King Street. Stop into the office to chat on any issue or concern. No appointment necessary. You cal also come at other times by making an appointment, just call 828-268-6209.