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Today’s Email Announcements

Found: Orange Kitten Near the Parkway

A very friendly, orange tiger-striped, intact male kitten, approximately 4-5 months old, was found along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Boone on the evening of Wednesday, September 7. If he is yours, please call Amy at (828) 297-3007.

Beech Mountain Oz Ball Saturday

Chamber of Commerce we will host the first-ever Oz Ball to go
along with a host of Oz-Themed events.
The 1
st
Annual Oz Ball takes place this Saturday, Sept. 10
th
,
2016 from 7-9 pm at the Beech Mountain Club Pavilion
(Located at 103 Lakeledge Rd., Beech Mountain, NC 28604)
– $30 Admission for All Ages (no group, child, senior or
military discounts): Tickets can be purchased at the door,
in the Beech Mtn. Chamber of Commerce or Online at:
– Cost of Admission includes:
o Catered Barbecue & All the Fixins, plus Beverage
(Water, Sweet/Unsweetened Tea or Lemonade)
o Live Music performed by The Rockabillys – Dancing &
Family-Friendly Music
o Photo Opportunities & Appearances by the Oz Cast
of Characters – Wicked Witch, Tin Man, Cowardly
Lion, Glenda the Good Witch
o Attendees are encouraged, but not required, to dress
as their favorite character for the Parade of
Costumes, emceed by Oz Characters
o 21 & Up, BYOB

Lecture on Local Attractions Sept. 15 at Lees-McRae

Stephenson Center for Appalachia lecture on area attractions scheduled for September 15
BANNER ELK, N.C. — To open the academic year and introduce newcomers to the area, the Stephenson Center for Appalachia at Lees-McRae College will present So You Say You Have Nothing To Do?: Plunging Waterfalls, Invigorating Hikes, Entertaining Beasts and Entrancing Sights on Thursday, September 15 at 7 p.m. in Evans Auditorium.

With the highest elevation campus in the East, Lees-McRae sits in the midst of some of the most vibrant natural attractions in the country, providing students with unmatched opportunities of outdoor adventure and relaxation.

“Over the years I have taken students in my photography classes to many beautiful sites only to hear them say that they wished they had known these places were so close. This year I want to introduce our freshmen and others to a variety of scenic attractions and hiking trails that lie within easy access to the campus,” said Dr. Michael Joslin, who will present photographs and stories of waterfalls, hiking trails, scenic locations and area wildlife.

Joslin, the director of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia, has published six books on the region and written hundreds of articles for newspapers and magazines. He has taught journalism, photography and English courses for more than two decades at Lees-McRae and has spent many years exploring and photographing the area.

“We invite everyone who is interested in enjoying the many opportunities to experience the natural wonders of the mountains to attend the program,” said Joslin.

The Stephenson Center for Appalachia serves as a resource for anyone interested in learning about the mountains, the culture and history of the area, and its natural wonders. Each semester and during the summer the Center hosts a series of lectures on Appalachia. Following Joslin’s lecture will be a musical performance by the Belfast Boys on October 13, a debut reading of Joshua Simcox’s new ghost drama on October 27, and a lecture by Dr. Steve Nash, ETSU history professor, on Reconstruction in Appalachia on November 16. All programs begin at 7 p.m. in Evans Auditorium.

Stephenson Center lectures are free and open to the public. For information, email Michael Joslin atjoslin@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 1,000 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.

 

Musical Musings Sept. 17 at Crossnore Presbyterian

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Transportation Museum Scenic Trips in October

SPENCER, N.C. – For the past 10 years, the N.C. Transportation Museum has offered scenic day trips that combine railroading, history, travel, shopping, dining and fun. Traveling by train, excursion passengers can experience one of the finest pedestrian malls in the country with a trip to Charlottesville, Va. Oct. 29, or harvest festival delights during the Oct. 30 trip to Toccoa, Ga. Both trips feature sights only seen when traveling by rail, at a time when the vibrant colors of fall are at their peak.

Tickets go on sale to members of the N.C. Transportation Museum and Watauga Valley RHS Thursday, Aug. 4, while the general public will be able to purchase starting Monday, Aug. 8. Trip options include vintage rail cars, Amtrak coaches, and dining options aboard the train. Trips typically sell out, so those wishing to purchase are urged to act quickly. These one-day trips are presented by the N.C. Transportation Museum Foundation and the Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society and Museum, and act as fundraisers for both organizations.

Unique shopping, dining and sightseeing opportunities await those traveling aboard the Virginia Autumn Special to Charlottesville, Va. Departing from the N.C. Transportation Museum in Spencer with additional pick-up at the Greensboro Amtrak Station, passengers will experience beautiful views of the Piedmont, the rolling hills of the Carolinas and the western part of Central Virginia. Spectacular views of the Dan, Roanoke and James Rivers will be seen as the train crosses above.

At noon, the “Virginia Autumn Special” will arrive in Charlottesville, home of the University of Virginia. Here, travelers will have nearly three hours to explore the historic downtown area. A short walk takes you to the downtown outdoor mall, considered one of the most beautiful and successful pedestrian malls in the nation. Unique shopping and dining opportunities can be found in boutiques, specialty wine, coffee and tea shops and outdoor dining spots.
Departing Charlottesville at 3 p.m., the train will arrive back in Greensboro at 6:45 p.m. and Spencer at 8 p.m.

The Georgia Autumn Special will depart from Spencer, with additional passenger pick up at the Spartanburg, S.C. Amtrak Station. Nestled in the foothills of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, the historic town will be bustling with activity during the 40th Annual Harvest Festival. Passengers will have approximately three hours to enjoy the festival, which features handmade, handcrafted and home-grown items from more than 200 vendors, as well as delicious regional foods, entertainment on two stages, children and youth activities, buggy rides and much more.

Toccoa Falls, named for the Cherokee word “Toccoah,” meaning beautiful, is a must see. Located on the campus of Toccoa College, the 186-foot falls are 26 feet taller than Niagara Falls. Shuttle buses will be making a continuous loop between downtown Toccoa and Toccoa Falls.

Numerous seating options are offered for excursion passengers as part of the ticket purchase. Each seating class offers different amenities.

Tourist Class seating features the comfort and convenience of modern Amtrak passenger cars. Two seats, featuring adjustable backs, are on each side of the center aisle, with windows at each row. The Souvenir and Cafe cars are located at the rear of the Tourist Class section, while passengers also have the option to purchase a boxed lunch. Tourist Class seating is $160 per person.

Heritage Coach Class seating includes travel in refurbished “heritage” cars that feature more spacious seating. This option also includes a boxed lunch served in a reusable tote. Heritage Coach Class tickets are $185 per person.

Deluxe Coach passengers ride in comfort with spacious seating, adjustable seat backs, leg rests and large windows to view the scenery. This seating class includes lunch on a vintage dining car, as well as complimentary light snacks and beverages onboard. Deluxe Coach seating is $195 per person.

First Class seating is available onboard a selection of beautifully restored vintage parlor, lounge or business cars. Seating configurations vary between cars and may include table seating, club or compartment seating. This seating class includes breakfast and dinner on the dining car. Amenities include morning newspaper, light snacks and beverages onboard. First Class seating is $270 per person.

Dome Class passengers are seated in the upper level of a glass dome-topped car and enjoy outstanding panoramic views. This seating class includes breakfast and dinner served at each seat or table, snacks, beverages and a morning newspaper. Guests will have to climb a short flight of stairs to reach their seating. Dome Class tickets are $299 per person.

A final option is the Business Class compartment seating aboard a vintage sleeper car. Business Class includes a hot breakfast and hot dinner in the dining car, plus snacks and beverages. As this is a compartment configuration, prices are $1120 for seating for up to four people.

All ticket purchases will include handling fees and taxes.

Additional trip options include a $15 gourmet boxed lunch that passengers can enjoy on the train to save time for shopping and sightseeing during the trip. Commemorative T-shirts feature the Autumn Rails trip logo, and are available in slate blue or pistachio green. T-shirts are $20 each and available from Adult Small to XXXL sizes.

Additional information regarding seating and amenities and online purchase options are available at www.nctrans.org. Those wishing to reserve seats can also call 704-636-2889 ext. 257 or 224.

# # #

About the N.C. Transportation Museum

The N.C. Transportation Museum, located in historic Spencer Shops, the former Southern Railway repair facility is located just five minutes off I-85 at Exit 79 in Spencer, N.C., and about an hour from Charlotte, Greensboro or Winston-Salem. The museum is part of the Division of Historic Sites and the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

 

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources 

The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR) is the state agency with a vision to be the leader in using the state’s natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational and economic future of North Carolina. Led by Secretary Susan Kluttz, NCDNCR’s mission is to improve the quality of life in our state by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries and nature in North Carolina by stimulating learning, inspiring creativity, preserving the state’s history, conserving the state’s natural heritage, encouraging recreation and cultural tourism, and promoting economic development.

NCDNCR includes 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, two science museums, three aquariums and Jennette’s Pier, 39 state parks and recreation areas, the N.C.  Zoo, the nation’s first state-supported Symphony Orchestra, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the State Preservation Office and the Office of State Archaeology, along with the Clean Water Management Trust Fund and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please call (919) 807-7300 or visit www.ncdcr.gov.