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Today’s Email Announcements

Help the Burgess Family After Loss of Infant Son

From Kelsey Slusser, fundraiser organizer

The Story

My brother and his fiance, Collin Burgess and Michelle Miglio, were seven months pregnant with their second child and recently suffered an enormous loss. Due to the combination of a pre-existing medical condition (their little one was diagnosed with Osteogenesis Imperfecta in the second trimester of pregnancy) and pre-term delivery, their little boy Memphis passed away shortly after birth. I am asking for donations to allow them to stay out of work so that they can spend time together and take as much time as they need to begin their grieving process. They recently moved into a new home 2 months ago, and depleted all of their savings with moving costs and deposit(s). They have an eight-month-old son named Aspen, and of course all the typical household bills that they need to keep up with (rent, utilities, car insurance, phone bill, gas for their car, etc). Any help would be greatly appreciated as they go through this difficult time. Even if you are unable to help financially, they have expressed how much they would love as many people praying for them as possible.

If you are interested in making an offline donation, feel free to contact me personally at kelseyslusser@gmail.com to discuss it further.

Out of respect for the family and their privacy, we request that they are not contacted directly in any way.

Thank you so much!!

Opening Day for Storytelling Season Is May 2 at International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, TN

Storytelling season in Jonesborough is about to begin. On May 2, the International Storytelling Center (ISC) will launch the 2017 season of its popular Storytelling Live! series, a six-month showcase of the country’s top storytellers.

Now in its 16th year, Storytelling Live! brings a new “teller in residence” to the town of Jonesborough each week for a week’s worth of performances. The program runs through the end of October, and includes special guests in November and December.

Storyteller Bil Lepp will usher in the first week of the series, followed by 25 more master storytellers who will take turns hosting weeklong residencies at ISC’s downtown center. The season’s highlights will include cowboy poet Joe Herrington and other newcomers Donna Washington, Sam Payne, and Ingrid Nixon; world-class musicians like David Holt and Michael Reno Harrell; international voice Liz Weir; and fan favorites like Donald Davis, Ed Stivender, and Kim Weitkamp.

Woven throughout the season, many storytellers will also offer exclusive children’s programming, evening concerts and workshops. The latter will focus on topics as diverse as faith-based storytelling, eldercare, and boosting literacy. Tickets for these events are all sold separately.

“Our Teller-in-Residence program is such a great resource for people who live around Jonesborough and across the region,” says Susan O’Connor, ISC’s director or programs, “but it also attracts visitors to Jonesborough from all over the country. Storytelling Live! has been recognized at the regional, state, and national levels through organizations like the East Tennessee Foundation, the Niswonger Foundation, the Tennessee Arts Commission and the National Endowment of the Arts. We’re so proud to have crafted a world-class program that’s worthy of their support.”

All Storytelling Live! performances are in ISC’s intimate theater in Mary B. Martin Storytelling Hall.

Tickets for all matinee performances are just $12 for adults and $11 for seniors, students, and children under 18, and ticket holders will receive discounts at many downtown establishments on the day of the performance.

Season passes that offer nearly half off the price of regular admission are available (only as supplies last).

Information about all performers, as well as a detailed schedule for 2017, is available at www.storytellingcenter.net. The premier sponsor of Storytelling Live! is the Heart & Soul program of Mountain States. Additional program funding comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Tennessee Arts Commission, the East Tennessee Foundation, Eastman Credit Union, the Niswonger Foundation, Citi and Food City. Media sponsors include News 5-WCYB, FOX Tri-Cities, Tri-Cities CW, Johnson City Press, Kingsport Times-News, Herald & Tribune, Cumulus Media, and Foster Signs.

The International Storytelling Center is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For more information about Storytelling Live! or to make a group reservation, call (800) 952-8392 ext. 222 or (423) 913-1276.

Ashe Family Literacy CommUnity Feast on Saturday, May 6 in West Jefferson

Saturday, May 6 at 6:00 p.m.

Ashe County Arts Council, West Jefferson

You are cordially invited to attend the second annual CommUnity Feast to support a Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge grantee agency, Ashe Family Literacy!

Join Ashe Family Literacy for a lavish spread of the traditional ethnic cuisine of their students, followed by a Latin dance demonstration, and lessons for those who are interested.

Money raised through this event will support the costs of childcare and transportation for women who attend Ashe Family Literacy’s programs. They provide women with classes for English as a Second Language, Adult High School Diploma or GED prep, college and career transition, and support in being their child’s first and most important teacher.

Tickets for the event can be purchased at the Ashe County Arts Council, or email Ashe Family Literacy’s Executive Director, Beth Sorrell, atbasorrell@gmail.com to reserve your tickets at the door.

Athletics Surplus Sale Set for April 29 in the Mountaineer Room at Owens Field House

Appalachian State Athletics will be holding an athletics surplus sale in the Mountaineer Room at Owens Field House on Saturday, April 29 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Apparel from a number of App State athletic teams will be available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.

Cash and major credit cards will be accepted for payment. Pricing on items will vary and will be determined at a later date. Sales will only be accepted in person and are final. No refunds or returns will be accepted once purchases are made.

Expected equipment available for purchase (subject to change)

Football: Jerseys, T-Shirts, Jackets, Polos

Baseball: Jerseys, T-Shirts, Sweatshirts, Hats

Men’s Soccer: Jerseys, Jackets, T-Shirts, Pants, Shorts, Socks, Balls

Volleyball: Shoes, T-Shirts, Sweatshirts

Women’s Soccer: Shirts, Jackets, Pants, Shoes

Men’s Tennis: Shirts, Sweats

Women’s Basketball: Shirts, Sweats, Shoes

The Glass Quartet Concert at St. Mary of the Hills on Sunday, April 23

The Glass Quartet of Appalachian State University will present a very special concert on Sunday afternoon, April 23rd, at 2 pm at St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church in Blowing Rock.  The concert is free, the first in this season’s concerts sponsored by the Friends of Music at St. Mary’s.

The Glass Quartet are four advanced musicians studying at Appalachian State – Chandler Fadero, first violin, Faith Berry, second violin, Grayson Milholin, viola, and Kelsey Lynch, cello.  They have chosen two very different pieces for this concert – the lush Quartet No. 2 by Borodin, and Mushima/Closing (Movement 6) from String Quartet No. 3 by Phillip Glass, the composer from whom the ensemble took its name.

Please join us for this wonderful afternoon of music in the nave of the church.  St. Mary’s is on the corner of Main St. and Chestnut in Blowing Rock. You can keep up with all the performances and special services at the church by following ‘Music from St. Mary of the Hills’ on Facebook.