Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society & Museum to Hold Spring Excursions on April 1st
The Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society & Museum will be offering its annual Spring 2017 Rail Excursions on April 1st. The excursion starts out in Johnson City in a motor coach, giving the passengers an experience centered around riding a train. The Society needs to sell a minimum amount of tickets by March 1st in order to ensure that the excursions can take place. The train will be picking passengers up in Johnson City, Greeneville, Morristown and Knoxville.
Deluxe Coach Seating cost is $92.00 per adult and $82.00 per child (ages 2-12), Observation Lounge seating cost is $130 per adult and $120.00 per child (ages 2-12) and Dome seating cost is $160.00 per adult $150.00 per child (2-12).
To purchase tickets, send a money order or check (no cash or credit cards) to
Spring 2017 Rail Excursion, Watauga Valley Railroad Historical
Society & Museum, P. O. Box 432, Johnson City, TN 37605-0432.
A printable order form can be found online at www.wataugavalleynrhs.org.
For more information about the event, call 423-753-5797 or email wataugavalley@embarqmail.com.
Blog Your Way to Success Luncheon, Feb. 23
Jason Reagan, Communications Guru, will be hosting a seminar to inform interested parties about how blogging can expand your brand. The event takes place on Feb. 23 from 11:45 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at 2491 Old US Hwy 421. Lunch will be provided.
Jason recently launched The Argus Group, a communications provider offering the highest elevation of dynamic communication and media-marketing solutions across a wide array of platforms: tech media, print, video, social media, web-based content, and SEO.
Tickets for the event are $10/person.
The Great Backyard Bird Count Returns, Feb. 17-20
Audubon North Carolina, is hosting the 20th annual Backyard Bird Count next weekend, February 17-20, where participants will count birds for 15 minutes and submit their data to Audubon NC which will then be used in future research on the effects of climate change on birds.
Anyone anywhere in the world can count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count. Bird watchers from more than 100 countries participated in last year’s count, documenting over 5,000 species — nearly half the possible bird species in the world — on more than 147,000 bird checklists.
This year, Audubon reminds everyone that it only takes 15 minutes to become a citizen scientist by participating in the GBBC. This four-day event is a great opportunity to empower citizens of all skill levels to take an active role in birding and conservation efforts in our state.
Participation is free and easy. GBBC is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society along with Bird Studies Canada. To learn more about how to join the count, download instructions, obtain a slide show, create web buttons and gather other materials, visit www.birdcount.org. While you’re there, get inspired by the winning photos from the 2016 GBBC photo contest and take a look at regional bird activity here.
Carolina Public Press to Hold Free Public Forum on Food, Feb. 17
Carolina Public Press will hold a free public forum on food deserts and food policy in Western North Carolina on Friday, Feb. 17, from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Center for Graduate Studies of Asheville.
Panelists will be Charlie Jackson, executive director of the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project; Hannah Randall, chief executive officer of MANNA FoodBank; Kiera Bulan, coordinator of the Asheville Buncombe Food Policy Council; and Laura Sexton, registered dietitian with UNC Asheville. Journalists with Carolina Public Press will moderate the event, which includes a panel discussion and audience Q&A. The event is sponsored by Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Center for Graduate Studies of Asheville and Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College.
Panelists will discuss issues including access to affordable and fresh foods in Western North Carolina, where “food deserts” are in Western North Carolina, and efforts to set food policy at the local, regional and statewide level.
Tickets are limited and RSVPs are required to attend either in person or via live-streaming. Tickets are available at www.carolinapublicpress.org.
Over Yonder Presents Next Feature Chef in Rising Chefs of Appalachia Pop-up Series, Feb. 15
Over Yonder hosts “Una Noche Espanola: Spanish Tapas in the High Country”–a night centered around Hispanic cuisine with featured chef Christina Fasanello on Wednesday, Feb. 15. The event takes place at the Over Yonder Restaurant in Valle Crucis. Tickets are $45, but there is a discounted price at $30 for food industry workers.
For more information about the event and the menu, visit the website or call 828-963-6301.
The Watauga Soil and Water Conservation District Board to Hold Regular Meeting, Feb. 22
The Watauga Soil and Water Conservation District Board will hold its regular Board meeting Wednesday February 22 , 2016 at 8:00 am at the Soil & Water Office located at 971 West King Street, Boone NC 28607.The public is invited to attend.