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Today’s Email Announcements

1) Cooking Oil Recycling Program Now in Avery County

The Cooking Oil Recycling Program (COR) is a collaborative project that unites public organizations, non-profits, and private businesses in informing the public about waste cooking oil issues and the potential of turning that “waste” into renewable energy.  With over 40 locally-made recycling bins currently placed across Buncombe and neighboring counties for used cooking oil, the program is expanding to Avery County. There are now two bins at the Avery County Solid Waste Transfer Stations at 220 Balm Hwy in Banner Elk and at 3070 Newland Hwy in Newland.

By placing bins in convenient locations across Western NC counties and reaching out to the public about the benefits of recycling, the COR Program aims to divert potentially harmful waste cooking oil to Blue Ridge Biofuels for processing into clean-burning, locally-made biodiesel fuel at their new production plant in Newton, NC. Each year, local governments and municipalities spend millions of dollars cleaning sewer pipes blocked by grease. By keeping oils and fats out of our water system, we can help save public funds for other valuable projects.

“In Western North Carolina, we take environmental health very seriously,” says Blue Ridge Biofuels’ Business Administrator Melita Kyriakou. “The COR Program is one way residents can directly affect our air and water quality, reduce public works costs, and participate in the local fuel economy.”

The COR Program has kept over 14,700 gallons of used cooking oil out of our sewers and landfills since October 2013. That equates to over 16,300 gallons of biodiesel produced and consumed in WNC which has kept 150 tons of polluting CO2 out of our atmosphere. Funded by the NC Department of Environmental and Natural Resources, the COR Program has a vested interest in the sustainability of Western North Carolina and accepts every type of used cooking oil, animal fat, and grease. The Cooking Oil Recycling Program website has a map of all the area bins along with a list of all its regional partners. Visit www.CookingOilRecycling.org to learn more.

To reach a representative for a public event or to request an additional bin location, contact Blue Ridge Biofuels at 828-253-1034 ext. 3, via email at info@blueridgebiofuels.com, post at Facebook.com/CookingOilRecycling or by filling out this New Client Request Form.

2) Open House for New Internal Medicine Office on Sept. 2

Appalachian Regional Medical Associates is pleased to announce the opening of Appalachian Regional Internal Medicine Specialists. The multi-specialty practice will include rheumatology, pulmonology and internal medicine. Dr. James Logan of Appalachian Regional Rheumatology and Dr. Kevin Wolfe of Appalachian Regional Pulmonology will join new providers Dr. Richard Stark, an internal medicine physician, and Stephanie Walker, FNP-C. The public is invited to attend an open house and ribbon cutting on Sept. 2 from 4-6 p.m. For more information, call 828-386-2746.

3) September Programs at Grandfather Mtn. State Park

FOREST ECOLOGY

Sat, September 5, 2015 | 5:00PM-6:00PM

Meet at: Profile Parking Lot (Hwy 105 South – 1/4 mile north of the Hwy 184 intersection)

Appropriate for age 8 through adult – children under 16 must be accompanied by adult. Please no pets.

Get out and enjoy the brisk mountain air for a guided walk along Grandfather Mountain State Park’s Profile Trail. Participants will learn about trees, community types, birds and forest ecology in winter. Difficulty will be easy to moderate 2 mile round trip hike lasting 1.5 – 2 hours. Hiking boots are recommended. This is an outdoor event and those in attendance should come dressed for the current weather conditions. Please contact the park office if you have further questions. 828-963-9522 or grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov. Starts at: 5:00 PM

BASICS OF WILDERNESS SURVIVAL

Sat, September 12, 2015 | 9:00AM-10:00AM

Meet at: Lowes Foods parking lot; Highway 105 at intersection of Highway 184

Appropriate for age 8 through adult – children under 16 must be accompanied by adult. Please no pets.

Few things are better than enjoying the great outdoors but would you be prepared if something went wrong? Do you have the skills and equipment to survive an unplanned night outdoors? Join a Ranger to learn the Basics of Wilderness Survival. We will handle equipment, learn the minimum gear to carry and practice making survival fires. This program is appropriate ages 8 through adult and will last approximately one hour. Please dress appropriately for the weather conditions. For more information, contact Luke Appling at the park office 828-963-9522 or email: luke.appling@ncparks.gov. We will meet at the left (north) side of the Lowes Foods parking lot. Starts at: 9:00 AM

VOLUNTEER TRAIL WORK DAY

Sat, September 19, 2015 | 9:30AM-3:00PM (Registration Required)

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. Starts at: 9:30 AM

NUWATI TRAIL HIKE – NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY

Sat, September 26, 2015 | 11:00AM-2:00AM

Meet at: Boone Fork Parking Area (Just north of the 300 Milepost on Blue Ridge Parkway)

Approximate 2 mile hike, Difficulty Level: Easy, (Appropriate for all ages – children under 16 must be accompanied by adult – Please no pets)

In honor of celebrating “National Public Lands Day” we invite you to join a Ranger for a hike on the Nuwati Trail and see what can be discovered along the way. This hike will be open to all ages (ages 16 or less must be accompanied by an adult). No dogs please. Dress appropriately for the weather conditions and sturdy hiking shoes or boots are suggested. This will be approximately a 2 hour hike so please bring any water or snacks you will need to complete the hike. Please contact the park office if you have any questions 828-963-9522. Starts at: 11:00AM

CAMOUFLAGE

Sun, September 27, 2015 | 4:00pm-5:00pm

Meet at: Boone Fork Parking Area (Just north of the 300 Milepost on Blue Ridge Parkway)

Appropriate for all ages; children 16 and under must be accompanied by adult.

How many times have you walked passed something and not realized it was there until it was pointed out to you or it moved? Chances are pretty good this has happened to you and if so this program is for you. Join Ranger Sicard to celebrate “Take A Child Outisde Week” and learn the many ways animals use camouflage in the wild and also how to be more attentive when hiking out on the trails to notice more neat things than what is right on the trail. This will be about a 30 minute program consisting of a presentation and an interactive part for attendees to try and locate several “staged” animals in the area around where the program is held. To attend, meet at the Boone Fork Parking Area located on the Blue Ridge Parkway at mile post 299.9. Please call the park office if you have any questions 828-963-9522. Email: grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov. Starts at: 4pm

4) Events This Week at The Art Cellar Gallery

Works on Paper: August 26th – September 26th
Curated Works by Gallery Artists

Friday Flight Night This Week
Summer’s Not Over Yet –
Come out and Celebrate !

Join us Friday, August 28th from 5 to 6:30pm
Enjoy Fine Art, Fine Wine and Fine Conversation
during the last Friday Flight Night of the Summer.
A great chance to celebrate the summer and all the gallery artists,
bring your friends and join in the art filled conversations.

All about glass……
Don’t Miss the
Final Saturday Coffee Talk of the Summer
August 29th
10am to Noon
Valerie & Rick Beck

Laughing Glass, Process and Inspiration
Video Presentation & Gallery Talk

Visit www.artcellaronline.com for more information.