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Today’s Email Announcements

1) August Programs at Grandfather Mountain State Park

Edible, Medicinal and Toxic Plants of Appalachia

Sat, August 8, 2015

3:00p.m.-4:00p.m.

Meet at: Park Office – 9872 Hwy 105 S, Banner Elk, NC

Appropriate for all ages (Children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult) The wilds of the Southern Appalachians can be a 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. Please dress for the weather conditions and hiking approximately one mile. All ages are welcome. Please no pets. Please meet at the park office. Then we will leave for a short hike. Contact Luke Appling with any questions. 828-963-9522 or luke.appling@ncparks.gov.

Edible, Medicinal and Toxic Plants of Appalachia

Sun, August 9, 2015

3:00p.m.-4:00p.m.

Meet at: Park Office – 9872 Hwy 105 S, Banner Elk, NC Appropriate for all ages (Children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult) The wilds of the Southern Appalachians can be a 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. Please dress for the weather conditions and hiking approximately one mile. All ages are welcome. Please no pets. Please meet at the park office. Then we will leave for a short hike. Contact Luke Appling with any questions. 828-963-9522 or luke.appling@ncparks.gov.

Volunteer Trail Work Day

Sat, August 15, 2015

9:30a.m.-3:00p.m. (Registration Required) Starts at: 9:30 a.m. Meet at: Contact office for location Suitable for adults and children above 12 years of age. All volunteers under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal adult guardian present. Do you enjoy being outdoors and meeting new people? Share in the adventure by volunteering on one or more of our trail work days. Volunteering is a great way to have a little fun while giving back to some of your favorite hiking spots. Join our park’s 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. Volunteers should be dressed in appropriate clothing for outdoor work, bring work gloves, wear closed toed shoes. Bring food and water for refreshments during the day. Volunteer Work Days are scheduled for the third Saturday of each month from May to October. Please note: Registration is now required for our volunteer days. Volunteers must register no later than 2 days before scheduled work day. To register, please contact our office at 828.963.9522 or grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov.

Forest Literacy

Fri, August 21, 2015

5:00p.m.-6:30p.m. Meet at: Park Office – 9872 Hwy 105 S, Banner Elk, NC Appropriate for Ages 8 and up; children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Please no pets. When you walk through the woods, what do you see? Most of us see the plants, animals and nonliving objects but fail to read the story behind these. If you know what to look for and how to ‘read’ the forest you get a glimpse into the past and understand the how and why of what brought the forest to its current state. Join a Ranger and learn the skills of reading the forest. Become forest literate and unlock the secrets of the forest! Program is appropriate for ages 8 through adult. Dress appropriately for outdoor conditions and wear hiking footwear. We will have a brief discussion followed by a hike lasting approximately one hour. For Directions to the park office, visit https://goo.gl/oq7dAH. Please contact Luke Appling with any questions. 828-963-9522 or luke.appling@ncparks.gov.

Grandfather Mountain State Park — Go G.R.E.E.N. Day (Annual Event)

Sat, August 22, 2015

11:00a.m.-4:00p.m.

Meet at: Foscoe Grandfather Community Center, 233 Park Road, Banner Elk, NC 28604

Save The Date!!!

Join us to celebrate the mountain, state parks, natural resources, local history, environmental education, the Year of the Amphibian, summer in the mountains and everything that is fun about being outside! The fifth annual Grandfather Mountain State Park Event, Go G.R.E.E.N. Day will be held August 22, 2015 at the Foscoe Grandfather Community Park. The name has changed, but the event will still be an exciting day with our staff and presenters.

Scheduled Events:

8am: Profile Trail Guided Hikes: call office for details/registration

9am: Profile Trail Guided Nature Hike: call office for details/registration

11:15 – 12:00: Mountain Stream Ecology

12:00 – 12:30: Storytelling by local Storyteller ReVonda Crow

12:30 – 1:15: Mountain Stream Ecology

1:30 – 2:15: Mountain Stream Ecology

1:30 – 2:00: Author Randy Johnson presents – “The Brief History of Grandfather Mountain: A Photo Tour”

1:15 – 2:30: Mountain Stream Ecology

2:30 – 3:00: Storytelling by local Storyteller ReVonda Crow

3:30 – 4:00pm: The famous State Park Ranger Skit

See the newest hiking gear from Footsloggers, play amphibian games, visit with native wildlife from Genesis Wildlife Sanctuary, learn to live safely with bears, learn about birds and bees; trout and amphibians, learn about your state park! Plus many more activities, exhibits and demonstrations. We are looking for volunteers too; from environmental educators to those who would like to help us set up for the event – and everything in between. Please contact the park office at 828.963.9522 or grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov for more information.

GUIDED PROFILE TRAIL HIKES (Go G.R.E.E.N. Day)

Sat, August 22, 2015

Go G.R.E.E.N. Day Event Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015 – 8:00 a.m. & 9:00 a.m. Meet at: Lowes Foods (Hwy 105/Hwy 184 intersection) – Banner Elk, NC Shuttle will be provided to trail and leaves promptly at 8:00am for guided hikes and 9:00am for nature hike. Pre-registration is required by August 21. Call the park office at 828.963.9522 or email: grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov. As part of Grandfather Mountain State Park’s Go G.R.E.E.N. Day Event on August 22, Boone’s very own hiking club, The Chargers and Re-Chargers are leading hikes of varying difficulty levels on the Profile Trail. If you ever wanted to tackle the Profile, but needed a little encouragement, this is your chance! Experienced Hike Leaders will lead the traditional hikes at 8:00am. Local Naturalist Bob Cantu will share his knowledge of native flora and fauna found along the trail on a special nature hike at 9:00am. ALL HIKERS ARE WELCOME AND MAY CHOOSE FROM THE FOLLOWING HIKING OPTIONS: Guided Trail Hikes – (8:00AM – meet at Lowes Foods for shuttle) Moderate: 4.5 miles round trip to Profile View with approx. 1100’ elevation gain – Strenuous: 5.5 miles round trip to Shanty Springs with approx. 1,600’ elevation gain – Very strenuous: 7 miles round trip to Calloway Peak with approx. 2,000’ elevation gain Guided Nature Hike with naturalist Bob Cantu (9:00AM – meet at Lowes Foods for shuttle) Easy: 2 miles round trip with approx. 130’ elevation gain – This educational hike will be slow-paced to enable hikers to stop and observe plants and animals along the trail. Hikers on the easier hikes will return by 12:30pm, which will leave time to participate in other Go G.R.E.E.N. Day events. The Shanty Springs and Calloway Peak hikes will take most of the day. Please no dogs. Please wear sturdy hiking boots, bring snacks and water, dress in layers and bring a rain jacket. Don’t forget your hiking poles if you use them. Hike leaders are providing a shuttle for hikers from the Lowes Grocery Parking Lot, near McDonalds (intersection of Hwy 105 and 184) to the small Profile parking lot. Hikers are to meet at Lowes Foods – the shuttle will leave the parking lot promptly at 8:00am (Rides will also be provided for the 9:00am hike – leaving Lowes promptly at 9:00). Park website: http://ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/grmo/main.php Park Office: (828) 963-9522 | Email: grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov

2) Pack the Canoe

Calling all Beech Mountain residents and guests! Summer is on the way out and school is just around the corner. In efforts to support our local community, the Buckeye Recreation Center and the Beech Mountain Chamber are teaming up to “Pack the Canoe” by gathering school supplies and any other donations for the families and children in need within the Avery County School System. Items needed between Aug. 1-31 include pens, pencils, erasers, pocket folders, scissors, kleenex, lunch boxes, paper, crayons, colored pencils, markers, glue, backpacks and clothes. Cash donations are accepted and will be used to buy materials. Donations can be dropped off at the Buckeye Recreation Center. Call 828-387-3003 for more information.

3) Movie Viewing at Watauga Library on Aug. 10

High Country Lifelong Learners in association with the Watauga County Public Library invite you to join us for a movie viewing of It Happened One Night on August 10th from 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm.

Two great lovers of the screen in the grandest of romantic comedies !

A spoiled heiress, running away from her family, is helped by a man who’s actually a reporter looking for a story. This was the first film to win the Oscar ”grand slam” (Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Screenplay).

This film has an MPAA rating of Unrated and an approximate run-time of 105 minutes.

For more information please email: high.country.lifelong@gmail.com, Attention: Deb Gooch.

4) Upcoming Blowing Rock Chamber Events

Blowing Rock Farmers’ Market
Every Thursday, 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Park Avenue in front of the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce

Art in the Park
August 15, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Parking lot surrounding the American Legion

Sunday Concert
August 16, 4:00 pm
Sycamore Bones

Business After Hours
August 18, 5:30 pm
BRAHM
Sponsored by di Santi, Watson, Capua, Wilson and Garrett

Partner/Sponsor Appreciation Event
August 24, 6:00 pm @ BRAHM
If you are interested in being a chamber partner or sponsoring a chamber event,
please contact Marcia @ 828-295-7851

TRAC
August 27, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
American Legion Building

Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
September 22, 6:00 pm
Catered by Outback Steakhouse
American Legion Hall

Candidate’s Forum
October 19, 5:30 pm
Blowing Rock School Auditorium
160 Sunset Drive, Blowing Rock, NC

SHRED DAY
August 19, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
First Citizens Bank

Leadership Challenge Luncheon
August 26, 11:30 am
Bistro Roca

Ribbon Cutting
The Victorian Inn
September 1, 4:00 pm
corner of Sunset and Ransom
Blowing Rock, NC