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Today’s Email Announcements

1) Terra Firma documentary and Spring Farm Day organized to celebrate local women and veteran farmers

Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture (BRWIA), Appalachian & The Community Together (A.C.T.), and The ASU Women’s Center announce a film screening of Terra Firma and a volunteer Farm Day to engage the campus and the surrounding community. The documentary will take place on Wednesday, April 8 in the I.G. Greer theatre on campus at 6:30 p.m. The Farm Day will be on Saturday, April 11 from 8:30 until around 2 or 3 p.m., convening at Duck Pond Field also on the Appalachian campus.

This unique collaboration of both university and community organizations have come together to support and teach the community about the experience of women and veteran farmers in the High Country. BRWIA, A.C.T. and The Women’s Center decided to put on these events due to a mutual desire to see a greater and more personal understanding of what it means to not only be a farmer in the High Country, but one that identifies as a woman or veteran.

Terra Firma, created by filmmakers Christine Anthony and Owen Masterson, follows the lives of three women, all of whom were sent to the Middle East to serve in the War on Terror in 2003. Through intimate interviews, the three women share their stories of pre and post war-life, including their struggles with combat related PTSD and their unique source of healing—farming. One of the women, Anna Mann, operates a pastured meat farm in Mount Airy, NC. After being inspired by the film, attendees are invited to take action by helping out on a farm the following Saturday.

The volunteer Farm Day is a tradition for the A.C.T. office; however, this time all of the farms the student and community volunteers will be visiting are run by women or veterans. Dozens of students will be sent out in groups to several participating farms for a day filled with learning new things, forming new relationships, and, let’s face it, getting a little dirty. At the end of the work day, each farm will provide a fresh lunch for the volunteers made from food directly from their gardens.

Both of these events are a part of the month long community collaboration known as Greening My Plate Month taking place April, 2015. Find out more about the Film Screening, Farm Day, and other Greening My Plate events at greeningmyplate.brwia.org. Email the BRWIA Program Coordinator, Suzanne@brwia.org with any questions regarding the events.

Crossnore James on the first Friday of the month

At the Crossnore Meeting House, 7 to 9 p.m.

Jam sessions are free and open to all

Be sure to bring your instrument or just come out and hear Jesse play

3) The Derrick C. Jones Residency on the Negro Leagues Baseball Era, April 12-18, 2015 at Appalachian State University

Derrick C. Jones ’79, will return to Appalachian April 12-18 for a residency featuring lectures and presentations on the Negro Leagues Baseball Era for audiences on campus, at public schools and in the community.

Jones, semi-retired after 33 years as a public educator, has always been interested in the Negro Leagues. He has conducted extensive research about that era of American history (1920-1960) for the last 20 years, though he is quick to say his passion is “just a hobby.”

As an extension of his research, Jones began to gather memorabilia from that time period. His collection has grown into an extensive assortment of authentic Negro Leagues jerseys, baseball mitts, vintage trading cards, autographs, photo collections, figurines, and numerous other Negro Leagues collectibles and artifacts.

Over time, Jones also developed an interactive program titled “A History of the Negro Leagues Baseball Era and Players,” which he has shared with schools and communities across North Carolina and Virginia. Children are invited to participate in the presentation by wearing reproductions of size-appropriate jerseys of famous players and reading short biographies of stars like Jackie Robinson, “Cool Papa” Bell, John-Henry “Pop” Lloyd and Josh Gibson.

Jones’ “Traveling Museum of Artifacts from the Negro Leagues Era” will be displayed in Plemmons Student Union’s Multicultural Center from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., April 13-17. Campus and community members are invited to view the exhibit.

For a complete schedule of the Derrick Jones Residency, visit http://diversity.appstate.edu/events/jones/. For additional information, call 828-262-2144 or email Susan King at kingsh@appstate.edu.

The Derrick Jones Residency is sponsored by the Office of Equity, Diversity and Compliance, with support from Belk Library and Information Commons, McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, and Dan’l Boone Inn.

4) The Human Powered Transportation Club of Appalachian State University and NC-Downhill hosting the First Annual Downhill Longboard Race at Mt. Jefferson on the weekend of April 19th

Skaters from throughout the area will come to West Jefferson to compete in this unique high-speed downhill race. The event will be held at the picturesque and hilly location of Mt. Jefferson State Park where the roads will be closed and hay bales carefully placed, as spectators stand by to watch the racers bomb down the curvy mountain.

The race takes place on a two mile-long two lane road that winds down the side of Mt. Jefferson State Park. Riders will reach speeds up to 50 mph. The course ends at the bottom where riders will be driven back to the top for more runs. The event will surely attract spectators and remind the boarding community of the spectacular mountain runs that the east coast has to offer.

Practice day for the event is Saturday, April 18th and consists of hours of runs and fun. There will be camping sites available for the night of April 18th for racers and spectators to socialize and hangout before race day. There will also be food and refreshments available for racers and spectators. Prizes will be awarded to the first, second, and third place riders as well as swag bags to all riders.

The entry fee is $175 with discounts for pre-registration. Riders are required to wear helmets and protective pads and gloves. Race leathers are strongly suggested but not required.

A shuttle system will be used for transportation from the parking lot at the old Lowe’s Food for all participants, volunteers, spectator and park visitors for the day. Handicap parking will be available in the park for those with disabilities.

For additional information, See NCdownhill.com or contact Bailey

5) Social entrepreneurs Doc Hendley and Hannah Davis to speak at Global Opportunities Conference

Wine to Water founder Doc Hendley will be the keynote speaker at the 2015 Global Opportunities Conference: Business for a Better World to be held Friday, April 10 at 9 a.m. in Plemmons Student Union’s Grandfather Ballroom at Appalachian State University.

The conference is hosted by the Walker College of Business, with additional support from University College, the Goodnight Family Sustainable Development Department and the James E. Holshouser Jr. Ethics Endowment.

The conference and luncheon are free and open to the public, but registration is required. To register, visit http://goc.appstate.edu/registration.  More information about the conference is online at http://goc.appstate.edu/schedule.

The Global Opportunities conference will explore the potential for innovative businesses to solve global social and environmental problems.

Hendley, a former bartender, founded Wine to Water to help address the serious problem of the lack of potable water in developing nations. His nonprofit organization commits funds raised through wine tastings to repair broken wells, install rain water harvesting tanks and other sanitation modalities to 250,000 people worldwide. His efforts have saved thousands of lives. Hendley was hailed as a CNN Hero of the Year in 2009.

Hannah Davis, founder and president of BANGS Shoes, will also speak at the conference. The canvas footwear company provides funds to entrepreneurs in 19 countries, including the U.S. Davis is a recognized advocate for social entrepreneurship and has spoken at two TEDx events during the past six months.

The conference also will feature a panel discussion on the role of innovative business in solving social and environmental problems. Conference attendees can submit a question to the panel online for the opportunity to win a gift certificate to University Bookstore and a signed copy of Doc Hendley’s book, “Wine to Water: A Bartender’s Quest to Bring Clean Water to the World.”

Appalachian students will share their experiences on Walker College of Business study abroad programs in Belize working on a sustainable cacao farm, in Costa Rica learning the dynamics of “fair trade” in the coffee industry, and in an Alternative Service Learning program partnering with Wine to Water in the Dominican Republic.

6) Third annual Festa do Brasil held April 15-17 at Appalachian

Festa do Brasil, a three-day celebration of Brazilian culture, will be held April 15-17 at Appalachian State University. Now in its third year, the festival includes a Brazilian film night, dance workshop, capoeira performance and free Brazilian food. All events take place in the Plemmons Student Union and are free and open to the public.

The festival is hosted by the university and local community.

The festival starts on Wednesday, April 15, from 12:30-2 p.m. with an International Coffee Hour in Whitewater Café in Plemmons Student Union. A free, home-cooked meal of black beans and rice will be served.  Information for study abroad trips to Brazil will also be available.

Thursday’s festivities begin at 6 p.m. in Greenbriar Theater with a showing of “City of God,” an award-winning film co-directed by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund.  Adapted from Paulo Lins’s novel by the same name, the film captures the struggles of daily life in Brazil’s most notorious favela.  A 30-minute panel discussion led by faculty members from the Department of English will follow the film.

Culminating events take place on Friday, April 17, from 5-9 p.m. in Grandfather Ballroom in Plemmons Student Union. The evening begins with an Afro-Brazilian Dance Workshop followed by a Dance of the Orixás. 

The highlight of the festival is a capoeira performance. Rooted in Afro-Brazilian slave culture, capoeira is a martial art that combines dance, acrobatics, singing and music.  Mestre Dotour from Philadelphia will lead the performance, which also includes past and present Appalachian students of capoeira. Today capoeira is played throughout the world and recognized as a Brazilian National Treasure.

An authentic Brazilian meal catered by Monezi’s from Greensboro will follow the capoeira event.

For more information on the festival, contact Bruce Dick at 828-262-2873 or Gabrielle Motta-Passajou at 828-262-8598.

7) 5 tips for tax filers about health coverage

This year’s tax season is the first time tax filers will be asked to provide basic information regarding their health coverage on their tax returns. Here’s what taxpayers need to know:

  1. Most people just need to check a box: Most tax filers – about 75 percent – will just need to check a box when they file their taxes to indicate that that everyone in their household had coverage for all of 2014. This applies to people who had health coverage through their employer, Medicare, Medicaid, among other sources.
  2. If you had Marketplace coverage, you should have your Form 1095-A: Last year, millions of Americans used advance payments of tax credits to help lower the cost of their monthly health insurance premiums. Now that tax season is here, these individuals will need to ensure they received the correct amount of financial assistance when they file their tax returns. People with Marketplace coverage should have received an important statement in the mail from the Marketplace called a Form 1095-A.  If you’re still waiting for your 1095-A Form to arrive, check your marketplace account – most forms are available online. You can also call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596.
  3. If you didn’t have health coverage, use the exemption tool: While those who can afford health coverage but chose not to enroll may have to pay a fee, people who couldn’t afford coverage or met other conditions can receive an exemption.  A tool is available on HealthCare.gov can help people who didn’t have insurance last year understand if they might qualify for an exemption
  4. If you have to pay the fee, consider signing up for coverage through the Special Enrollment Period. Tax filers who have to pay the fee and who were unaware or did not understand the requirement to enroll in coverage can take advantage of an opportunity to purchase health insurance coverage through a special enrollment period. If tax filers do not purchase coverage for the remainder of 2015 during this special enrollment period (March 15-April 30), they will risk having to pay the fee again next year for the entire year when they file their 2015 income taxes.
  5. Help is available. Tax filers with questions about exemptions, the fee, the Special Enrollment Period, or Marketplace tax statements should contact the Marketplace Call Center. The call center is open all day, every day at 1-800-318-2596. Additional resources and  information for tax filers is also available www.healthcare.gov/taxes.

8) Koresh Dance Company Takes the Stage April 17

Renowned for its powerful stage presence and high-energy style, Philadelphia’s Koresh Dance Company has been hailed as a vital force on the national and international stage. As a part of the South Arts Dance Touring Initiative, Appalachian State University’s Performing Arts Series is hosting the dance company for a live performance on Friday, April 17 at 8 p.m. at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts.  Earlier in the week, the company will offer several master classes and residency activities for campus and community groups.  For tickets and information, call the Schaefer Center Box Office at 800-841-ARTS (2787) or 828-262-4046, or visit pas.appstate.edu.

About Koresh Dance Company

Koresh Dance Company was founded in Philadelphia in 1991 by Israeli-born choreographer and artistic director, Ronen Koresh.  The technically superb and emotionally compelling company is defined by its openhearted approach that permeates both on and off stage. Koresh’s Israeli heritage differentiates the company, producing unique works that range from humorous and eloquent to passionate and explosive.  The company’s interdisciplinary foundation promotes high-speed attack and gestural diversity drawn from Graham technique, Luigi jazz, classical ballet, hip-hop and Israeli folk dance. It presents bi-annual home seasons as the resident dance company of the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, and has toured in over 38 states and 7 countries.

“It’s all dance, and it’s all art ”

Dance Magazine

“ Exalted, the audience rises to their feet, giving the company a thunderous ear-shattering standing ovation.”

The Dance Insider

“ They consistently astonish with their skill, when all nine of them move together as a unit, they become a single entity, a piece of life moving as if with one heartbeat. ”

San Antonio Express

About Artistic Director Ronen Koresh

Ronen (Roni) Koresh was born and raised in Israel. He received early dance training from his mother, a folk dancer in the Yemenite tradition, and from teachers Alida Gera, Micha Deri, Nira Paz and Moshe Romano. Koresh joined Martha Graham’s Batsheva 2 Dance Company before enlisting for three years in the Israeli army. In 1983, he moved to New York to study with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. He began performing with Shimon Braun’s Waves Jazz Dance Company in Philadelphia, and in 1991, founded Koresh Dance Company in Philadelphia, followed by the Koresh School of Dance in 1993. Koresh has established a repertoire of over 60 works and develops two to three new works each year. Koresh has been on the faculty at Philadelphia’s University of the Arts since 1986, teaches master classes across the country, and participates in festivals including Jacob’s Pillow and the Northwest National Dance Project. Recipient of a Philadelphia dance community Rocky Award from FringeArts and Dance/USA Philadelphia, Koresh is an avid collaborator and supporter of emerging artists.

About the Residency

This performance is part of a collaborative project with the South Arts Dance Touring Initiative, involving residency activities by Koresh Dance Company from April 15-17. Residency activities and performances are funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Company members will hold master classes, meet with dance students at Appalachian and in community studios, and artistic director Ronen Koresh will lead a lecture discussing the influence of his Israeli heritage on his work as an artist. Koresh Dance will also perform as a part of the APPlause! K-12 Performing Arts Series for area school children on the morning of April 17. For more information on the APPlause! Series, visit http://theschaefercenter.org/applause.

Tickets

Tickets for these events are on sale at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts box office and online at pas.appstate.edu. The Performing Arts Series is committed to affordable ticket prices, with prices for most events ranging from $10-$30. The series offers a “Pick 5” discount for series events when the tickets are purchased in multiples of five. To purchase tickets, call or visit the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts Box Office at 828-262-4046 or go online at pas.appstate.edu.

About the Performing Arts Series

The Performing Arts Series supports the teaching mission of Appalachian State University by presenting a diverse array of music, dance and theatre events designed to enrich the cultural landscape of the campus and surrounding region. By creating memorable performance experiences and related educational and outreach activities, the series promotes the power and excitement of the live performance experience; provides a “window on the world” through the artistry of nationally and internationally renowned artists and showcases some of the finest artists of our nation and our region.

Performing Arts Series Corporate Sponsors:

McDonald’s of Boone and Boone Area Visitors Bureau

Media sponsors include:

Charter Media, Our State Magazine, High Country Radio, Mountain Television Network, WDAV 89.9 FM, WFDD 88.5FM, WETS 89.5FM, WASU 90.5FM and High Country 365.

9) June Race Weekend Provides 5 Runs for Entire Family

Beech Mountain presents the 2015 Cool 5 Weekend, June 19 – 20th, 2015 – a weekend celebration full of family fun and fitness for participants of all ages that emphasizes outdoor activity while showcasing the beauty of the mountains.

Runners, residents, and guests are invited to Buckeye Recreation Center on Friday, June 19th from 5 – 7pm for the “Taste of Beech”. Sample the unique cuisine from local restaurants on Beech. Restaurants will have menus and coupons available. Runners receive a FREE ticket to the Taste of Beech when they pick up registration packets from the Recreation Center, and Taste is only a “cool” $5 for guests. Limited number of tickets, so register early to save your spot.

From 2 – 7 p.m. on Friday, everyone is encouraged to participate in the “Buck-A-Thon” fundraiser collecting dollars for each lap they complete around either the outside of the Buckeye Recreation Center or the indoor walking track.

The main races are on Saturday morning, June 20, with a 5 mile run; 1.5 mile Fun Run; and a pet-friendly 1.5 mile Walk & Wag. All three begin at Town Hall at 8:30 a.m.

The 5 mile course is somewhat challenging and famous for its outstanding views of the Blue Ridge with a fast downhill finish. All ages are welcome! The 1.5 mile Fun Run course has moderate elevation changes, but is ideal for a family challenge! Bring your strollers and get moving. The Walk & Wag course circles around the Bark Park and is complete with doggy water and treat stations. After the race there will be a Canine Cool Down at the Bark Park.

Over the years, proceeds from the Cool 5 have created and improved recreational resources for Beech Mountain residents and visitors to enjoy. Projects have included: children’s playgrounds, hiking/biking trails, and an accessible community fishing dock. This year the proceeds will be used to help upgrade the kitchen at the Recreation Center. Annually on average almost 20,000 guests visit the center each year and at many of our events we provide refreshments. Our current kitchen is not capable of handling this volume.

ALL EARLY REGISTRATION CAN BE COMPLETED ONLINE at A COOL 5

5 Mile Run: early registration $25 for adults, $30 race day.

1.5 Fun Run/Walk & Walk & Wag: early registration $20 for adults, $25 race day.

Children 12 & under: $10 for all races.

It is free to participate in the Buck-A-Thon and Kids’ Popsicle Relay; however, children must register in order for the planning committee to order enough participation awards and goodies.

For more information and registration about A Cool 5 Race Weekend, please visit www.acool5race.com or contact Sandy Carr, Director of Parks and Recreation at (828) 387-3003.

10) Lees-McRae College to celebrate 5th Annual Appalachian Heritage Week April 6-10

Celebrating spring’s return to the mountains, Lees-McRae will host the fifth annual Appalachian Heritage Week April 6 through 10. Each day, the College will highlight a unique aspect of mountain heritage and invites everyone to participate in activities sponsored by the Stephenson Center for Appalachia.

To begin the celebration of Appalachian heritage, the New Opportunity School for Women (NOSW) will host an Open House on Monday, April 6 from 12-4 p.m. to celebrate its 10th year at Lees-McRae College. The program’s cornerstone is providing the opportunity for participants to embrace their Appalachian heritage. Join Director Jennie Harpold, members of the NOSW advisory council and past graduates to learn more about this program which has changed the lives of more than 80 women within the region and more than 700 in the 26 years since it was founded in Berea, Kentucky. Later, on Monday evening beginning at 5 p.m., MacDonald Dining Hall will serve traditional Appalachian fare while the group Us Fellers, led by Trevor McKenzie, will play old time mountain music. While the music will be free, the cost of the meal for those without a Lees-McRae meal plan will be $10.38.

On Tuesday, beginning at 12 p.m., Lee Rankin will feature animals from Apple Hill Farm on Tate Lawn. From adorable alpacas to feisty goats and pretty pigs, the domestic livestock that are the stars of her farm’s agri-tourism enterprise will be on display. Socks, scarves and other products created from the fine alpaca fiber will be available for purchase. Also that afternoon, from 2-4 p.m. on Tate Lawn, students from Lees-McRae College Outdoor Programs, led by Dee Thomas, will present different features of outdoor Appalachia. Students from the Backpacking Club will display both a contemporary campsite and one typical of a century ago. Similarly demonstrating how new technology has revolutionized outdoor activities, the Rock Climbing Club will model belaying, rappelling and climbing techniques of the past and today, while the Search and Rescue Team will show how first-aid techniques have changed over time.  On Tuesday evening at 5 p.m. in MacDonald Dining Hall, the celebrated Bailey Mountain Cloggers will perform during dinner. Clogging holds a special place in the history and culture of our area, and no group dances better than this team. While the clogging will be free, the cost of the meal for those without a Lees-McRae meal plan will be $10.38.

Wednesday is the 11th Annual Mountain Service Day during which students, faculty, staff and community members volunteer their time and efforts in projects around campus and in the community. For information or to volunteer, contact Cassie Hughes in the Student Development Office at hughesc@lmc.edu.

On Thursday, the campus will celebrate old and new Appalachian crafts and traditions. Starting around noon, potter Rob Withrow from Brasstown, N.C., will demonstrate his pot-throwing technique in Swank Park behind the Chaffee Administration Building. Students and visitors are invited to get their hands dirty and shape clay on the turning wheel. Withrow will also have a selection of his acclaimed work for sale.

Thursday evening, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in Evans Auditorium, local farmers will display their produce and, at 7 p.m., Adam Keener from the Avery County Agricultural Extension Office will lead a discussion of agriculture in the area and the growth of the farmers’ market.

The week’s festivities concludes on Friday when Greg (Bumble Bee) Miller brings his Percheron team and carriage to campus to take students and visitors for rides the old-fashioned way – by real horsepower. Horse and carriage tours will be available from noon until 3 p.m.

“Once again we invite everyone to join us in Lees-McRae’s celebration of our Appalachian heritage. Whether you can contribute to our understanding of the past or hope to learn more about mountain culture, please join us for one or all of our activities,” said Dr. Michael Joslin, director of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia. “We look forward to a rewarding week.”

Except for dinner on Monday and Tuesday, all events are free and open to the public. For further information contact Pam Joslin at 828.898.8721 or email Dr. Michael Joslin at joslin@lmc.edu.

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, Lees-McRae College is a private, four-year college offering diverse baccalaureate degrees, strong athletic programs and outstanding faculty. With 950 students hailing from 31 states and more than 8 countries, Lees-McRae’s broad core curriculum is enhanced by field-specific career preparation and experiential learning. For more information, please visit www.lmc.edu or call 828-898-5241.

11) Public invited to a free WCC’s 50th Anniversary Celebration

The public is invited to attend Wilkes Community College’s 50th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, May 16, at the Doc & Merle Watson Theatre on the Wilkes Campus. This is a free event for the entire family.

The gates will open at 4:30 p.m., and a concert, featuring The Hit Men – former stars of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons – will begin at 6. There will also be children’s activities, and food vendors will provide food for purchase. Guests may bring a picnic basket and cooler but no glass containers or alcohol are permitted.

“This is going to be a wonderful celebration for our college,” said Dr. Jeff Cox, president of Wilkes Community College. “In 50 years, this college has grown from its three original buildings on the Wilkes campus into a multi-location college serving over 11,000 students each year in Wilkes, Ashe and Alleghany counties. I believe that is worthy of a fabulous event. So, grab your lawn chair or a blanket and come out to have fun.”

The Hit Men will perform the hits of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Jim Croce, Tommy James & The Shondells along with other favorites from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, including songs from “Grease.”

Wilkes Community College, a member of the North Carolina Community College System, is a public, two-year, open-door institution serving the people of Wilkes, Ashe and Alleghany counties and beyond. Established in 1965, WCC continues to build on a strong history of meeting the educational needs and cultural interests of our students, community and workforce. WCC prepares learners for success in a dynamic world.