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Today’s Email Announcements

Meet and Greet with Josh Teague Nov. 2

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Humane Society Announces Winter Hours of Operation

The Watauga Humane Society’s Winter hours are from Nov. 1st – March 31st.  We are closed on Monday and Tuesday through Sunday we will be open from 12:30 – 5:00pm.

November Programs at Grandfather Mountain State Park

100 Mile Hike (Nuwati Trail)

Appropriate for ages 8 and up.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. No pets please.  Celebrate the North Carolina State Parks’ Centennial with Grandfather Mountain’s 100 Mile Challenge.   Hikers can log more miles for their challenge with our Nuwati Trail Hike. This three-mile round trip, guided hike follows the track of an old logging road. It’s an easy but rocky hike, including a spectacular view of the Boone Bowl and Calloway Peak from Storyteller’s Rock. Dress appropriately for the weather conditions and sturdy hiking shoes or boots are suggested. This will be approximately a 3-hour hike so please bring any water or snacks you will need to complete the hike. Keep up with your miles!  Hikers completing Grandfather Mountain State Park’s 100 Mile Challenge will receive a commemorative t-shirt!  Need a Hiking Log? Download the log at:http://www.ncparks.gov/grandfather-mountain-state-park/activities.  Contact us at:grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov or 828-963-9522.

Date:  Sat, 11/05/2016 – 10:00am to 1:00pm

Start Location:  Boone Fork Parking Area (Just north of the 300 Milepost on Blue Ridge Parkway) (GPS: 36.120076, -81.781358) http://goo.gl/dEizYH

Camping Etiquette

Appropriate for all ages.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. No pets please.  Camping is a fun way to spend time with friends, family, or on your own. Join Ranger Sicard to learn a few things that will help making any camping experience a fun and safe one. During this program, participants will learn how to set up the site if it is not already established for you, how to keep food stored, and how to dress properly to stay cool or warm. There will be hands on portions for those who would like to get involved. All participants will be given a checklist for future camping to determine if they are using the proper camping etiquette. The knowledge learned can be used to pass on to others so that our natural resources can be enjoyed but not over used. This program will last approximately one hour and is open to all ages. Dress appropriately for the weather conditions. Bring water.   Contact us at:grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov or 828-963-9522.

Date:  Sun, 11/06/2016 – 11:00am to 12:30pm

Start Location:  Boone Fork Parking Area (Just north of the 300 Milepost on Blue Ridge Parkway) (GPS: 36.120076, -81.781358) http://goo.gl/dEizYH

100 Mile Hike (TRACK Trail)

Appropriate for all ages.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. No pets please. Celebrate the North Carolina State Parks’ Centennial with Grandfather Mountain’s 100 Mile Challenge.   Hikers can log more miles for their challenge with our TRACK Trail Hike. This two-mile round trip, guided hike will take hikers to along our Kids in Parks TRACK Trail.  Dress appropriately for the weather conditions and bring any water or snacks you will need to complete the hike.  For more information about our Kids in Parks TRACK Trail, visit:http://kidsinparks.com/grandfather-mountain-state-park.   Keep up with your miles!  Hikers completing Grandfather Mountain State Park’s 100 Mile Challenge will receive a commemorative t-shirt!   Need a Hiking Log? Download the log at:http://www.ncparks.gov/grandfather-mountain-state-park/activities.

Date:  Sat, 11/12/2016 – 10:00am to 12:00pm

Start Location:  Profile Parking Area, Hwy 105 S, Banner Elk (GPS: 36.121990, -81.829993)https://goo.gl/dBX99s

100 Mile Hike (TRACK Trail)

Appropriate for all ages.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. No pets please.  Celebrate the North Carolina State Parks’ Centennial with Grandfather Mountain’s 100 Mile Challenge.   Hikers can log more miles for their challenge with our TRACK Trail Hike. This two-mile round, guided trip hike will take hikers to along our Kids in Parks TRACK Trail.  Dress appropriately for the weather conditions and bring any water or snacks you will need to complete the hike.

For more information about our Kids in Parks TRACK Trail, visit:http://kidsinparks.com/grandfather-mountain-state-park.  Keep up with your miles!  Hikers completing Grandfather Mountain State Park’s 100 Mile Challenge will receive a commemorative t-shirt!  Need a Hiking Log? Download the log at:http://www.ncparks.gov/grandfather-mountain-state-park/activities.   Contact us at:grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov or 828-963-9522.

Date:  Sun, 11/13/2016 – 10:00am to 12:00pm

Start Location:  Profile Parking Area, Hwy 105 S, Banner Elk (GPS: 36.121990, -81.829993)https://goo.gl/dBX99s

Forest Literacy

Appropriate for all ages; 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! Bring snacks and water.  Dress appropriately for outdoor conditions and wear hiking footwear. We will have a brief discussion followed by a 2-mile round trip, guided hike lasting approximately 2 – 2.5 hours.  Contact us at:grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov or 828-963-9522.

Date:  Sun, 11/13/2016 – 1:00pm to 3:30pm

Start Location:  Boone Fork Parking Area (Just north of the 300 Milepost on Blue Ridge Parkway) (GPS: 36.120076, -81.781358) http://goo.gl/dEizYH

100 Mile Thanksgiving Day Hike (Nuwati Trail)

Appropriate for all ages.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. No pets please. Celebrate the North Carolina State Parks’ Centennial with Grandfather Mountain’s 100 Mile Challenge.   Hikers can log more miles for their challenge with our TRACK Trail Hike. This two-mile round trip, guided Thanksgiving Day hike will take hikers to along our Kids in Parks TRACK Trail.  Dress appropriately for the weather conditions and bring any water or snacks you will need to complete the hike. Keep up with your miles!  Hikers completing Grandfather Mountain State Park’s 100 Mile Challenge will receive a commemorative t-shirt! Need a Hiking Log? Download the log at: http://www.ncparks.gov/grandfather-mountain-state-park/activities.   Contact us at: grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov or 828-963-9522.

Date:  Thu, 11/24/2016 – 3:30pm to 5:30pm

Start Location:  Boone Fork Parking Area (Just north of the 300 Milepost on Blue Ridge Parkway) (GPS: 36.120076, -81.781358) http://goo.gl/dEizYH

Forest Literacy

Appropriate for all ages; 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! Bring snacks and water.  Dress appropriately for outdoor conditions and wear hiking footwear. We will have a brief discussion followed by a 2-mile round trip, guided hike lasting approximately 2 – 2.5 hours.  Contact us at:grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov or 828-963-9522.

Date:  Sun, 11/27/2016 – 1:00pm to 3:30pm

Start Location:  Boone Fork Parking Area (Just north of the 300 Milepost on Blue Ridge Parkway) (GPS: 36.120076, -81.781358) http://goo.gl/dEizYH

Farmland Preservation Board to Meet Nov. 7

The Farmland Preservation Program Advisory Board will hold its regular meeting on Monday November 7, 2016 at 8:00 am in the Soil and Water District Office located at 971 West King Street Boone, NC 28607. The Public is invited to attend.

ASU to Test Campus Siren Warning System at 11:55 a.m. Wednesday

Appalachian State University will test its campus siren warning system at 11:55 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 2.

Examples of the tones that are used in an emergency or during tests can be heard online athttp://em.emergency.appstate.edu/siren-warning-system.

Appalachian uses the hi/low tone for emergencies, discontinuous air horn for tests of the system and the alert tone for all-clear signal.

For more information about the university’s AppState ALERT voice/text/e-mail notification system, visithttp://emergency.appstate.edu

The siren tests are conducted on the first Wednesday of the month. Scheduled dates for Appalachian’s upcoming tests are Dec. 7 and Jan. 4, 2017.