1) Sustainability Task Force Meets Feb. 26
The next Sustainability Task Force meeting will be held on Thursday, Feb. 26, at 1 p.m. in the Planning and Inspections Department Upstairs Conference Room.
2) Frozen Family Fun Day Held March 7
Buckeye Recreation Center is holding a FREE Frozen Family Fun Day on March 7, beginning at 10am and ending at noon. This event will be held at our Sledding Hill next to Beech Mountain Town Hall. Everyone loves the movie “Frozen” and so do we! Dress as your favorite “Frozen” character, come build your own Olaf, and bring the family.We will be giving out prizes for the best costumes and snowpeople!Make sure you bring accessories to dress your Olaf. Free hot chocolate will be provided.
3) Grandfather Mountain State Park Offers Spring Wildflower Walks
The High Country produces spectacular spring wildflowers. Join a park ranger in weekly explorations to see what new spring flowers have emerged. Hikes are conducted at a slow pace on moderately strenuous trails and last 2 ½ hours. Wear sturdy hiking boots. Bring a jacket, water and snacks. All ages welcome: participants under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. No pets, please.
- Wednesday, April 1 at 2 p.m. – Park office
- Friday, April 3 at 5 p.m. – Park office
- Sunday, April 5 at 3 p.m. – Park office
- Sunday, April 12 at 3 p.m. – Park office
- Friday, April 24, at 5:30 p.m. – Profile trailhead
- Saturday, April 25, at 1:30 p.m. – Boone Fork parking lot
- Sunday, April 26, at 3 p.m. – Boone Fork parking lot
- Saturday, May 2, at 10 a.m. – Boone Fork parking lot
- Tuesday, May 5, at 5 p.m. – Profile trailhead
- Saturday, May 9, at 3 p.m. – Boone Fork parking lot
- Friday, May 15, at 6:30 p.m. – Profile trailhead
- Sunday, May 17, at 1:30 p.m. – Boone Fork parking lot
4) Assistant Secretary of NC Commerce and Others to Speak at March Economic Symposium
There is a economic revolution happening across North Carolina with local businesses and rural communities leading the charge. As the NC Economic Partnerships and Department of Commerce continue to restructure their services, the larger conversations around community-driven economic development is taking shape, especially across WNC. Cortina Caldwell and Emily Breedlove invite you to join in the conversation with local, regional and national changemakers at the Authentic Communities Summit (ACS) taking place March 24-27, 2015 at New Mountain AVL in Asheville, NC. The event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24 with an Economic Symposium, followed by the two day ACS Summit on March 25 and 26 and concludes at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, March 27 with Explore AVL Day. “We are a network of people that can really affect positive change,” states Cortina Caldwell, ACS Co-Founder and Co-Director when asked why the movement surrounding authentic branding and community development is a personal passion. “Western North Carolina has been a leader in many ways already for creating significant impact within our own communities, and this is going to be the way we are remembered for coming together to do even more. Let’s make history and continue to pursue the connections needed to move this initiative forward.” Specifically, what is the Authentic Communities Summit? Emily Breedlove, president of Small Town Ventures, ACS co-founder and co-director best describes it as “an interactive conference for those who are passionate about the local economies movement… ACS is built with the intention of connecting and empowering those who are committed to the authentic advancement of their local community through the economic diversification of their region.” In the inaugural year (2015) ACS will feature the Assistant Secretary, NC Department of Commerce Rural Economic Development Dr. Patricia Mitchell, Founder & Executive Director of the Pomegranate Center, Milenko Matanovic, a national speaker and catalyst for creative placemaking and Carol Peppe Hewitt, Founder of Slow Money, NC which has facilitated $1.3 million in capital to sustainable farmers in North Carolina. In addition to these featured keynotes at the Pre-Summit Economic Symposium + Networking Reception, there are also two full days of workshops on the subjects of: Arts, Cultural Heritage & Creative Capital; Entrepreneurship; Innovation & Technology; Local Foods Movement; and Sustainable Living. The multi-day event concludes on Friday, March 27 with an “Explore AVL” day featured hosted Meet-the- Maker tours and Community Discussions from 11 a.m. -12:30 p.m.
5) March Programs at Grandfather Mountain State Park
Animal Mounts
Saturday, March 7, 2015
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Location: Park Office – 9872 Hwy 105 S, Banner Elk, NC
* Appropriate for all ages; children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Join Ranger Sicard to learn about some of the many animals that live within Grandfather Mountain State Park. Participants will get to see mounted examples of the animals up close as we talk about their unique adaptations (features). For more information please call Andy Sicard at the park office 828-963-9522 or email:andy.sicard@ncparks.gov.
Winter Tree Identification Hike
Sunday, March 8, 2015
1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. | Location: Profile Parking Lot (Hwy 105 South – 1/4 mile north of the Hwy 184 intersection)
* Appropriate for ages 10 and up; children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Please, no pets.
March 8 & 22 — Participants will learn how to identify local trees without the aid of leaves by learning differences in bark, limb, bud and branching patterns. Participants are encouraged to bring field guides to local trees. Program will last approximately two hours and hike 1 mile (2 miles round trip). Hiking boots are recommended. This is an outdoor event and those in attendance should come dressed for the current weather conditions. If there is new snow and/or ice, please call ahead. 828.963.9522 or email luke.appling@ncparks.gov. Difficulty: moderately strenuous terrain.
Unwanted Necklace
Saturday, March 14, 2015
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Location: Park Office – 9872 Hwy 105 S, Banner Elk, NC
*Appropriate for ages 5 and up; children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Ever wonder what kind of necklaces animals and birds wear? Join Ranger Sicard for a program that will tell you what kind of necklaces they wear and how we can keep them from wearing them. As a reminder of the necklaces we do not want the animals and birds to wear you will be able to make your own necklace to take home with you. For more information please call Andy Sicard at the park office 828-963-9522 or email: andy.sicard@ncparks.gov.
To Build a Fire
Sunday, March 15, 2015
1:00P.M.-2:00p.m. | Location: Lowes Foods parking lot (Highway 105 at intersection of Highway 184-Banner Elk)
* Appropriate for ages 10 and up; children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Please, no pets.
Fire is one of the cornerstones of human civilization that many of us take for granted in today’s modern lifestyle. Could you build a fire if necessary? Join a Park Ranger at Grandfather Mountain State Park to learn techniques on fire building and emergency fire starting for camping, heating or survival. Participants will learn about fuel sources, alternative fire starters and some of the science behind fire. This program will last approximately one hour. Children must be accompanied by an adult and please leave pets at home. Please dress appropriately for the weather conditions. For more information, contact Luke Appling at the park office 828-963-9522 or email:luke.appling@ncparks.gov. We will meet at the left (north) side of the Lowes Foods parking lot
Winter Tree Identification Hike
Sunday, March 22, 2015
1:00p.m.-2:00p.m. | Location: Profile Parking Lot (Hwy 105 South – 1/4 mile north of the Hwy 184 intersection)
* Appropriate for ages 10 and up; children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Please, no pets.
March 8 & 22 — Participants will learn how to identify local trees without the aid of leaves by learning differences in bark, limb, bud and branching patterns. Participants are encouraged to bring field guides to local trees. Program will last approximately two hours and hike 1 mile (2 miles round trip). Hiking boots are recommended. This is an outdoor event and those in attendance should come dressed for the current weather conditions. If there is new snow and/or ice, please call ahead. 828.963.9522 or email luke.appling@ncparks.gov. Difficulty: moderately strenuous terrain.