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

1) ASU Talk on the Maya

ASU will host “The Ancient Maya, El Mirador and Teothihucan: New Insights and Personal Journeys” a lecture by Sue Glenn, Maya Hieroglyph Scholar on Monday, April 28 at 4 p.m. at Sanford Hall room 404. Recent archaeological discoveries and hieroglyphic decipherments have given new insights on intimate connections among these ancient peoples. Sue Glenn has traveled in Mexico and deep into the jungles of Guatemala in search of those connections and will share her adventures.

2) Evening of String Chamber Music Presented April 30

Works by Beethoven, Debussy and Haydn will be performed April 30 during an evening of string chamber music at Appalachian State University. The performance begins at 8 p.m. in Broyhill Music Center’s Recital Hall. Admission to the event is free and open to the public. Students of Professor Nancy Bargerstock, Professor Ken Lurie and assistant professor Eric Koontz in the Hayes School of Music will perform. Students performing include violinists Katherine Archer, Jackie Barnes, Chandler Fadero, John Paul Fretwell, David Haskins, Victor Li, Margaret Mauney, Stephen Taperek and Alex Travers. Violinists are Melissa Edd, Cecelia Fault, Patrick Jones, Katelyne Lagroon and Greg Scurtu.

3) Letterland and Learning Express Bring Learning to Life at Tweetsie

Tweetsie Railroad is teaming up with Letterland, a world renowned reading program for the eighth consecutive year to bring learning to life for park visitors on May 6-8 and 13-14. Characters like Clever Cat and Red Robot help teach children the fundamentals of reading through this multi-sensory phonics program. 24-hour advance reservations are required. Guests can also take part in the Learning Express every Friday starting April 18 through May 23 and Sept. 5 through Oct. 24. The Learning Express provides a full day of fun at Tweetsie Railroad including a ride on the Learning Express Train.

4) Mabel UMC Yard Sale May 3

The Mabel United Methodist Church, located at Old U.S. 421 in Zionville will host a yard sale on Saturday, May 3 from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. There will be lots of treasures. Breakfast and lunch items will be available for purchase along with baked goods. Proceeds will benefit the Church Benevolence Fund. For more information or for directions, call Gloria Walters at 423-460-1303 or Diane Terry at 828-297-6120.

5) Appalachian Trail Conservancy Launches Nationwide Photo Contest

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) is not accepting submissions for its “Zoom in to the Appalachian Trail” photo contest, a nationwide search for the best photos featuring close up shots of the details that make up the Appalachian Trail (AT). The photo contest asks participants to recognize that the AT is not only a footpath, but also home to a vast array of wildlife and vegetation, scenery, unique people and special Trail communities. Contestants will submit a photograph of a favorite feature along the Trail. Photos may include people, places, scenery or more.   The top three photographers will each win a one-year membership to the ATC and will be featured in A.T. Journeys, the official magazine of the Appalachian Trail. The grand prize winner will also win a custom ATC-themed hammock, courtesy of ENO. Photo submissions will be accepted through Tuesday, June 3 and can be uploaded via the ATC Facebook page. The public will then vote for their favorite photo through Sunday, July 13. Winners will be announced the week of July 14.

6) May Programs at Elk Knob State Park

  • Trail Work Days: Every Saturday through November, staff and volunteers will meet at the Summit Trailhead at 9 a.m. at work until approximately 3:30 p.m. weather permitting. Tools are provided, but volunteers should wear close-toed shoes and bring work gloves, lunch and water. Most of the time will be spent building our new one mile trail loop, the Beech Tree Trail, although we may include some repair work on the Summit Trail. If you would like to be involved in a fulfilling project that will fill you with a well-deserved sense of pride, then join us on Saturdays at Elk Knob State Park. For more information, please call 828-297-7261
  • Wildflowers of the Southern Appalachians: Come view a PowerPoint presentation of the many different flowers that call the mountains home. After the presentation we will wander around the woods to see what we can find in bloom early in the season. Please meet at the park office on Sunday, May 11 at 2 p.m.
  • Wildflower Hike: Come see our array of spring wildflowers on a leisurely paced hike in the NC mountains. After the presentation, we will wander around the woods to see what we can find in bloom early in the season. Please meet at the Park Office on Sunday, May 11 at 2 p.m.
  • Animal Athletes Track Trail Hike: Join a Park Ranger for a wonderful, leisurely hike through the woods and discover the kind of activities that you can do that imitate animals. We will hike the unfinished Beech Tree Trail which is about a mile long but is fairly flat. We will see what other kinds of nature we can find along the trail. This hike is geared for kids between 5 and 12 but kids of all ages are welcomed to get out and enjoy the woods with us, but be prepared to be active and silly. Meet at the trailhead parking area on Sunday, May 18 at 2 p.m. and dress appropriately for the weather. This program will be held rain or shine. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Butterflies and Moths: In celebration of butterflies and moths, come learn about their fascinating history, interactions with humans and amazing little known facts about these marvelous creatures. Meet at the park office on Sunday, May 25 at 2 p.m.
  • Skins & Skulls: A park ranger will be at the start of the Summit Trail on Saturday, May 31 from 1-2 p.m. sharing information about animals that live at Elk Knob. There will be skins to touch and taxidermied animals to view. This is an informational program which will be canceled in the event of rain.