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Today’s Email Announcements

1) High Country Seed Swap Held March 14

On Saturday, March 14, all aspiring and practicing area gardeners are invited to Ashe Family Central (the former Ashe Central High School in Jefferson) to the High Country Seed Swap. The event features a day-long open exchange of seeds, plus a workshop on seed starting and another on apple tree grafting taught by area experts. Beginning at 8:30 a.m., gardeners will be able to display their own surplus seeds and view the offerings of others on tables set up in the cafeteria space. The seed swap will continue throughout the day. A seed starting workshop taught by Ashe County Extension Agent Travis Birdsell will run from 9:00-9:45 a.m. The grafting workshop and fruit-scion-wood exchange will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., led by nationally known apple experts Ron & Suzanne Joyner. Gardeners are encouraged to bring any surplus seeds, bulbs, corms, plants, and fruit scion wood they can to exchange. Seed swaps operate on the honor principle that gardeners will bring whatever they can this year, grow what they take from this swap, and bring more seeds from their crops to next year’s seed swap. The Seed Swap takes place in the Community Space (i.e.- former cafeteria) of Ashe Family Central, located at 626 Ashe Central School Rd., in Jefferson, NC (28640). North Carolina Cooperative Extension sponsors the event, with support from the Ashe County Farmers Market. Ron and Suzanne Joyner, of Big Horse Creek Farm in Lansing, will teach the grafting workshop. They are nationally known for their conservation and propagation of old Southern Apple varieties. The grafting workshop taught by the Joyners will be hands-on, with participants able to learn with the actual tools of the trade. Apple rootstocks will be available for purchase at the workshop, so if participants choose, they can graft several trees to then bring home and plant themselves (a flat fee of $10 will allow participants to graft up to three fruit trees). Information about collecting scionwood samples for grafting can be found at their website: http://www.bighorsecreekfarm.com/horticulture.html. The Seed Swap runs on community involvement, from the many gardeners who bring heirloom seeds from their gardens, to the assistance from Extension Master Gardener and Ashe County Farmers Market volunteers who make it run smoothly. Area Extension Agent Richard Boylan notes that the venue has been perfect for the event, but that participation is always crucial to make the event a success, “Ashe Family Central’s Community Space (the old school cafeteria) is a perfect spot for growers from all across the region to meet up and swap seeds in an open exchange. It’s big enough that folks can spread-out, browse seeds, and talk. The more participants who bring seeds to share, the better the Swap will be.” The event is free and open to all gardeners and farmers in the area. For more information, e-mail richard_boylan@ncsu.edu or call the Watauga or Ashe Cooperative Extension centers at 828-264-3061or 336-846-5850.

2) Benefit Spaghetti Dinner Held Feb. 27

Got a craving for some great spaghetti? Satisfy your spaghetti craving and help provide funding for seven students to attend the eighth grade field trip in Wilmington. The event will be held at Newland Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall on the square across from the Avery County Courthouse on Friday, Feb. 27, at 5 p.m. The cost is a donation to help provide funding for the field trip. Entree provided by Fabio’s Italian Restaurant. Bread, drinks and salad provided by Avery Middle School teachers. Desserts by Newland Presbyterian Church.

3) WHS Parents Night Rescheduled for March 3

Parent Night at WHS for eighth graders and their parents from Blowing Rock, Mabel, Parkway and Valle Crucis has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 3, at 5:30 p.m.

4) Blowing Rock Community Foundation Scholarship Applications Due March 6

The Blowing Rock Community Foundation, Inc. has earmarked monies to fund an additional four $2,000 scholarships, one $15,000 scholarship (the Stevens Scholarship), and one $10,000 scholarship (the Nancy and David Rankin Scholarship) to honor Blowing Rock students attending institutions of higher education – community college, technical school or two/four year colleges and universities. These scholarships are available for eight semesters of undergraduate study. Qualifications for these scholarships are as follows:

  • must be a student (or will enter in Fall, 2015) at a community college, technical school, or two/four year college or university
  • must have lived and continue to live in the Blowing Rock School District
  • must have attended Watauga High School for a minimum of two years
  • must have a high school grade point average of 2.5 or better
  • must submit an application which will include the following:
    – statement of goals for the future
    – academic as well as personal and professional
    – statement of academic and extracurricular activities
    – statement of financial information

Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of merit (50 percent) (scholarship, extracurricular/community service/work experiences, leadership, and character) and need (50 percent) (family resources and income, other siblings in college, family circumstances, other available financial aid, and any other relevant information).

Completed applications must be mailed to P.O. Box 525, Blowing Rock, North Carolina 28605, be in this mailbox by 5:00 p.m. on March 6, 2015, or be postmarked by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 2015. Applications will not be accepted at any other place, after the March 6th deadline, and/or without all information included.

Applications are available at the Guidance Office at Watauga High School, at Blowing Rock Town Hall, and/or on line at www.blowingrockcf.org. Interviews will be held on Wednesday, March 18, 2015 from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and on Thursday, March 19, 2015 from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Blowing Rock Community Library.

5) Grandfather Mountain State Park is Hiring

Grandfather Mountain State Park Seasonal Job Descriptions – 2015

One PARK TECHNICIAN (position number: 60096037) (Full-time)

Employed: March 30 – November 15

Job Description:   Position includes, but is not limited to the following activities:

Daily Operations: collect hiking and camping permits from trailheads. Remove and dispose of trash and recycling from Profile Trailhead. Pickup all litter at trailheads and on campsites and trails.   Perform minor and routine trail maintenance and clean campsites. Provide positive visitor contact throughout the park; provide visitors with accurate park information and any pertinent and timely weather and/or trail condition information. When necessary, supervise vehicle parking in the Profile parking lot. Clean office and restrooms; remove trash and recycling. Maintain clean state vehicle. Submit all required paperwork to supervisor on time: record approved work time in computer system.

As directed: expect to perform major trail work and other park projects. Work with and/or supervise volunteers on projects.   Employee may assist with interpretive programs and special events.

In absence of supervisor, this employee serves as crew leader for other seasonal staff.

Requirements: This position is very physical and the employee must be able to perform work outside in all weather conditions. Employee must be able to hike and work for eight hours on strenuous trails and must be able to lift heavy rocks and work with all forms of hand tools.   Employee must be able to work with minimal oversight and supervision. Employee must be comfortable spending time alone outside.

Employee must provide sturdy boots suitable for hiking and working on the mountain. Outerwear must be provided by employee, but employee must purchase uniform shirt for first day of work and provide green work pants following the issuance of first paycheck. CPR training is provided to employee after hire date and certification is required.

Hours: 40 hrs/week with two days off; Eight-hour workdays with 30 minutes off for lunch. Weekend and holiday work required.
Pay: $7.73/hr.

Two GENERAL UTILITY WORKERS (position numbers: 60096038, 60096039) (Full-time)
Employed: March 30 – November 15

Job Description: Position includes, but is not limited to the following activities:

Daily Operations: collect hiking and camping permits from trailheads. Remove and dispose of trash and recycling from Profile Trailhead. Pickup all litter at trailheads and on campsites and trails.   Perform minor and routine trail maintenance and clean campsites. Provide positive visitor contact throughout the park; provide visitors with accurate park information and any pertinent and timely weather and/or trail condition information. When necessary, supervise vehicle parking in the Profile parking lot. Clean office and restrooms; remove trash and recycling. Maintain clean state vehicle. Submit all required paperwork to supervisor on time: record approved work time in computer system.

As directed: expect to perform major trail work and other park projects. Work with and/or supervise volunteers on projects. Employee may assist with interpretive programs and special events.

Requirements: This position is very physical and the employee must be able to perform work outside in all weather conditions. Employee must be able to hike and work for eight hours on strenuous trails and must be able to lift heavy rocks and work with all forms of hand tools.   Employee must be able to work with minimal oversight and supervision. Employee must be comfortable spending time alone outside.

Employee must provide sturdy boots suitable for hiking and working on the mountain. Outerwear must be provided by employee, but employee must purchase uniform shirt for first day of work and provide green work pants following the issuance of first paycheck. CPR training is provided to employee after hire date and certification is required.

Hours: 40 hrs/week with two days off; Eight-hour workdays with 30 minutes off for lunch. Weekend and holiday work required.

Pay: $7.25/hr.

One WEEKEND GENERAL UTILITY WORKER (position number: 60095498) (Part-time)
Employed: Weekends May 16 – November 15

Job Description: Position includes, but is not limited to the following activities:

Daily Operations:   The primary responsibility of this employee is to supervise vehicle parking in the Profile parking lot, assist visitors and maintain cleanliness of the Profile Trailhead on weekends. Employee also collects hiking and camping permits from trailheads and removes and disposes of trash and recycling from Profile Trailhead. At least one weekend day will be spent conducting the above activities.

Additional duties include: Pick up all litter at trailheads and on campsites and trails.   Perform minor and routine trail maintenance and clean campsites. Provide positive visitor contact throughout the park; provide visitors with accurate park information and any pertinent and timely weather and/or trail condition information. Submit all required paperwork to supervisor on time: record approved work time in computer system.

As directed: expect to perform major trail work and other park projects. Work with volunteers on projects.     Employee may assist with interpretive programs and special events.

Requirements: This position is very physical and the employee must be able to perform work outside in all weather conditions. Employee must be able to hike and work for eight hours on strenuous trails.   Employee must be able to work with minimal oversight and supervision. Employee must be comfortable spending time alone outside.

Employee must provide sturdy boots suitable for hiking and working on the mountain. Outerwear must be provided by employee, but employee must purchase uniform shirt for first day of work and provide green work pants following the issuance of first paycheck.

Hours: 16 hrs/week: Saturday and Sunday. Eight-hour workdays with 30 minutes off for lunch.

Pay: $7.25/hour

One WEEKEND OFFICE ASSISTANT (position number: 60095507) (Part-time)
Employed: Weekends May 16 – November 15.

Job Description: Position includes, but is not limited to the following activities:

Daily Operations: Employee will answer the telephone and greet visitors to the office with a friendly, courteous demeanor and will provide accurate park information with a high level of customer service.  Employee will monitor all radio traffic and weather updates, conveying all pertinent information to park staff in the field via park radio and telephone. Employee will keep up with current camp site availability and current park information to accurately inform park visitors and staff. Employee will count imprest cash at the beginning and end of each shift and sell merchandise to the public as requested; with no errors in cash drawer.   Employee will clean the front of the office and the outside walk and stoop. Tally weekly camper numbers. Maintain activity journal of all calls, park questions and staff communications.

As Directed:   Prepare flyers, brochures, informational documents; conduct research for staff.

Requirements: This position requires a high level of customer service skills: employee must be personable and professional to the public and staff. Employee must be able to learn park information and provide accurate information to the public. Employee must be trustworthy and reliable. Employee must be able to work with minimal oversight and supervision. Employee must purchase uniform shirt for first day of work.

Hours: 16 hrs/week: Employee must be available for work Saturdays and Sundays throughout duration of position. Eight-hour workdays with 30 minutes off for lunch.

Pay: $7.25/hour

All applicants must submit a completed and signed state application (PD107) to the park office. Resumes are not accepted in lieu of an application.

Park office: 828.963.9522

Email address: grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 9, Linville, NC 28646

Physical Address: 9872 Hwy 105 S, Suite 6, Banner Elk, NC 28604