10.15.2008
Dave Vaught and Company (Bristol, TN)
Sleeping with the Wolves (Kingsport, TN)
Bays Mountain Halloween Haunt (Kingsport, TN)
2008 Apple Butter Festival (Meadowview, VA)
8.14.2008
Appalachian Fair August 18-28 (Gray, TN)
Faced with near-record gas prices and soaring grocery bills, money-conscious families have reigned in spending and instituted cost-cutting measures.
Skipping the Appalachian Fair will not among them.
The fair is a Mountain Empire tradition. And while gas prices are a pain - though lessening lately - the fair only comes once a year, and for the young and young at heart, people just have to go."
Crowds for the nightly concerts are always strong, and will remain so this year, most certainly, due to the strong line-up of pergormers: Tracy Lawrence kicks things off Monday night, follwed by Josh Gracin, dollwed by Jake Owen, Heidi Newfield, Chris Young, and Jypsi. Tickets are on sale; phone (423) 477-1420 for tickets.
Fairs can be the best entertainment value around, and the Appalachian Fair staff go out of their way to make this annual event extra-special.
General Admission is $8 for adults this year, and $3 for children 6-11. Children 5 and under are free when attended by an adult.
Senior Americans Day (60 & over) is Thur, Aug 21, and tickets will be $4. And School Day is Mon., Aug 18 - all grade and high school students are admitted free until 6 p.m.. There will also be a Special People Day, you have to call for Information. And all TN Family Community Education Club Members are admitted free until 6 p.m., Thursday, August 21.
A Season Ticket, for three days is $18, for six days, $36, by advance sale only. And a Parking season pass is $7.
Contact the Fair Ticket Office Regarding Advance Credit Card Ticket Purchases (423-477-1420)
Buildings open Monday through Friday at 3:00 p.m. and close at 10:00 p.m. Buildings open Saturday at 10:00 a.m. and close at 10:00 p.m.
There will be several Ride Specials on the James H. Drew rides: Monday, August 18 and Wednesday, Augugst 20, 3-7 p.m., unlimited rides for $18. Then Saturday, August 23, from 10-11 a.m. all rides are free, and from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., there will be two-for-one rides, where two people ride for the cost of one.
Special events include:
Monday, August 18, Fairest of the Fair Pageant, 8 p.m.
Tuesday, August 19, Little Miss Pageant, 6 p.m.
Thursday, August 21, Youth Talent Contest, 7 p.m.
Friday, August 22, Karaoke Contests, 7 p.m.
Saturday, August 23, Colgate Country Showdown, 7 p.m.
The Tennessee Moto-Cross will take place Monday-Wednesday, and then the Demolition Derby arrives Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
Throughout the week, at various times, fair-goers will be honored by the talents of the Trailblazer Cloggers, Michael Shipley (Country), the Incahoots Dancers, John Pafford and Shady Grove and many more. See http://www.bestofshoware.com/appalachianfair/entertainment.htm for information and show times.
So fill up the tank and head on out for the Appalachian Fair - exhibits, livestock, music, rides and much, much more - a perfect;y great way to spend family time in the community!
Border Bash Aug. 15 in Downtown Bristol ( Bristol , VA /TN)
Border Bash Aug. 15 in Downtown Bristol ( Bristol , VA /TN)
Date(s): August 15, 2008
Location: Bristol , TN 37620
BRISTOL, TN-VA. -- Border Bash is a free "meet and greet" held in the 500 block of State Street of historic downtown Bristol . The monthly concert series will continue on Friday, Aug. 15.
The evening starts with children's activities, fine art and craft exhibits, live music and concessions at 6 p.m., with entertainment provided by Say You Will, a high-energy, poppunk band. Performing at 7 p.m. will be singer/ songwriter Reagan Boggs. The final concert begins at 8:30 p.m. with The Maid Rite String Band playing music based on old time fiddle and banjo tunes, Carter family songs, and other traditional Appalachian standards.
AAME hosts area writers and artisans such as Tammy Robinson Smith, publisher of Mountain Girl Press; authors Carol Jackson and Joe Tennis; Linda Hoagland, author and craftsperson; Joyce Durham, needlework artist; David Jamison, creator of exotic wood and ivory pens; George Hannye, painter; Tammy Henkel, jewelry maker; and Clinton T. Bellamy, who makes Appalachian grown fruit butters and blueberry products.
The event is hosted by Believe in Bristol , Birthplace of Country Music Alliance, Bristol 's Rhythm & Roots Reunion, and Arts Alliance Mountain Empire (AAME).
Info: 276-645-0111, 423-573-2200.
8.13.2008
Celebration of Life ( Bristol , TN )
Celebration of Life ( Bristol , TN )
The Jonesborough Sacred Storytellers will present a special evening of inspirational stories to help “kick off” a year long “Celebration of Life” program series hosted by Windsor Avenue Presbyterian Church in Bristol . The event will feature some of Jonesborough’s most talented and best loved storytellers sharing stories that range from “the light hearted to the thought provoking.” Headlining: “Mountain Man” Bob Phillips, Pat Musselman, Judy “Butterfly” Farlow, Kate Agmann, Molly Catron, and Madge Rohrer. This concert will be held in the church sanctuary and is free to the public. A lover offering will be taken at the close of the program in support of this ministry. On August 17 6:30 PM, the church will be concluding it first annual “Old Fashinon Day” with an “old fashioned dinner on the ground” at 5:30 PM. Windsor Avenue Presbyterian Church is located at 1100 Windsor Avenue in Bristol , Tennessee . For detailed directions, more information, or schedule of upcoming events, please contact the church office at 423-764-6653.
Civil War Reenactment ( Saltville , VA )
Civil War Reenactment ( Saltville , VA )
The Civil War Reenactment to be held on Lake Drive in Saltville, VA August 16 and August 17 and will offer night fire and a skirmish on Saturday night at 9:30 PM. At 1:30 PM, each day, there will be a skirmish in the woods. Ladies’ tea at 11 AM and a hog-calling contest at 11:30 AM. Camp opens at 10 AM each day and the battles of Saltville will be fought at 2 PM each day. On Saturday, the camp closes at 4 PM and reopens at 6:30 PM for the evening activities. At 7 PM, you are invited to bring your fiddles and guitars for a jam session. Admission is $5. Children under 6 admitted free.
8.09.2008
Sweetness on the State Line ( Bristol , VA )
Sweetness on the State Line ( Bristol , VA )
Sweetness On The State Line: The History of Candy Making In Bristol will be presented by Lisa K. Elliott at the Bristol Public Library.. The lecture and PowerPoint presentation will be held in the conference room at 6:30 p.m on Monday August 11. This topic will document the numerous candy-making manufacturers in the city since 1909. For further details on this upcoming event contact program chairman Tim Buchanan, (276) 669-3885. Also, you can visit 
www.bristolhistoricalassociation.com to find out about the extensive work of the association preserving & promoting the region’s heritage.
Agape Women's Service's Presents The Purity Fashion Show ( Johnson City , TN )
Agape Women's Service's Presents The Purity Fashion Show ( Johnson City , TN )
The Theme for Our Fashion Show is Purity. Our models will show that today's young women can dress fashionably without compromising their integrity. This event is an beautiful expression of Purity for women of all ages. Call today to purchase your ticket.
How Much?
($25) Tickets MUST Be Purchased Before the Fashion Show - Lunch Will Be Served
When?
Aug 16 2008 - Aug 16 2008 @ 11:30 AM - 1:00 AM
Sat.
Where?
Downtown Johnson City , TN
Main St. , JOHNSON CITY , TENNESSEE , 37601
Who do I contact?
Agape Womens Services (423) 926-3788
agapejc@earthlink.net
Voices of the Land Living History Event
Voices of the Land Living History Event ( Johnson City , TN )
The Museum of East Tennessee History 's signature exhibit Voices of the Land : The People of East Tennessee will open to the public August 23-24, 2008. The celebration weekend will feature free tours of the museum, live music, living history timeline, activities, films at the Tennessee Theatre, self-guided downtown walking tours and a lot more!
Hours:
* Saturday 10 am to 6 pm
* Sunday 12 pm to 5 pm
More Information:
Downtown Knoxville will be celebrating all things history as we open our new permanent exhibit, Voices of the Land! There will be a living history timeline, historic character look-alikes, and re-enactor encampments. Clayton Bank will sponsor a music stage with regional music both days. Children will find fun activities and crafts, and the majestic Tennessee Theatre will sponsor a free open house and movie clips of Knoxville all day Saturday. Historical and genealogical societies and historic sites from throughout the East Tennessee region will display their books and brochures and answer questions about their organizations. And, of course, the culmination of years of planning and research, Voices of the Land will cover 8500 square feet of exhibit space on the first floor of the History Center . It will include three videos, five program albums of rotating images, three touch-screen stations, and about a dozen sound-stick opportunities to listen to recordings. There are 550 artifacts in the new exhibit and over 350 voices and quotations that tell the story of the land and the people of East Tennessee . More times and details will be posted shortly.
East Tennessee Historical Society • 601 S. Gay Street • Post Office Box 1629 • Knoxville, TN 37901-1629
865-215-8824 • eths@east-tennessee-history.org
8.03.2008
Hands On to Host Wacky Sports Day ( Johnson City , TN )
Hands On! to Host Wacky Sports Day ( Johnson City , TN )
Hands On! Regional Museum will host a Wacky Sports Day at Carver Rec. Center Wednesday, August 6th 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. “Wacky Olympics” is the theme for this year’s fun. Enjoy some wacky sports, inflatables, a water slide, and watch several local mascots compete for a gold medal. Lunch and prizes will be included in this FREE event.
All events are free. The event has been made possible through the support of the Niswonger Children’s Hospital, TruPoint Bank, Wal-Mart, Johnson City Sports Foundation, Johnson City Cardinals, Carver Park , ETSU Athletics, and Hands On! Regional Museum .
Please register by calling 423-434-HAND or e-mail April at discoverylab@handsonmuseum.org.
Hands On! Regional Museum is located at 315 E. Main Street in downtown Johnson City or on the web at 
http://www.handsonmuseum.org. Or call (423) 434-HAND.
Free Family Campout Weekends ( Mountain City , TN )
Free Family Campout Weekends ( Mountain City , TN )
Free Family Campout Weekends
Hosted by
Uphill Ministries at Cherokee Cove
Family Camp, Conference Center , and Retreat
…. every 1st full weekend of the months May-Oct.
from approximately 4:00 p.m. Fri until 11:00 a.m. Sun.)
These all-inclusive retreats are your answer to a great family vacation!
These fun-filled weekends are designed to enhance your family unity with Christian family and marriage counseling and other family-centered activities such as crafts, a family scavenger hunt, guided hikes, devotionals, worship music, and much more!
Cherokee Cove is located within 200 acres in the midst of the Blue Ridge Mountains , and is the BEST place in the High Country for your family get away in a beautiful setting to enjoy God’s creation! (Cherokee Cove is located along the TN/NC border, overlooking the Neva Valley in TN.)
Our delicious, nutritious meals include a variety of homemade items such as our signature granola, fresh breads, exotic salad greens, garden fresh vegetables, assorted pastas, gourmet rice blends, rich desserts, roasted meats and local fish. Our staff is equipped to meet your specific dietary needs or requests.
Your family campout weekend accommodation will be on one of our covered camping platforms (Regular & Tree house Style, & one handicapped accessible)
We also offer other accommodations for special needs. Contact us for more information.
To book your reservation for this FREE Family Campout Weekend contact Uphill Ministries at Cherokee Cove by email at cherokeecove@earthlink.net. If you do not have access to the Internet, call (423) 727-8560 and leave a message for a return call. Space is limited, so call soon to guarantee the date you would like to request. Check out our website at www.cherokeecove.org.
7.27.2008
First Friday in Downtown Johnson City
for food, friends, and fun!
The featured events include:
At Nelson Fine Art Center, there will be an opening reception for the mixed media show, "Before I'm 56," featuring the art of Becky Mallory. The reception will take place from 7:00 to 9:00 pm and hors-d'oeuvres will be available.
At Hands On! Regional Museum, check out "First Friday Farm Fun" at 6:00 pm. Celebrate the bounty of fall harvest by climbing on a farm tractor, mini-excavator, and skid steer loader from Chuck Mason equipment, visiting farm animals, learning how wool is made into yarn, and visiting the floral show sponsored by the Shady Oaks Garden Club.
At Beadworks, there will be an Open House, with live music, hors-d'oeuvres, and free earring assembly. Just pick out your favorite materials and watch them be transformed into the earrings of your dreams!
Other shops open for First Friday include Althaea's Soaps & Herbals (inside the King building), Artopia (inside Nelson Fine Art), Atlantis, Cross Stitch & Craft, Gallery Coffee & Tea (Inside Nelson Fine Art), Main Street Antiques & Mercantile, and Razzle-me-Dazzle' s.
MUSIC - The quirky acoustic duo, thereisnospace, will be playing in front of Nelson Fine Art
Other live music taking place on First Friday includes hits from the 70's by the Grey Wolf Acoustic Duo (playing on Main Street) and live music at Beadworks and Taste Budz.
If you've not sampled the fabulous dining options available in Historic Downtown, First Friday is the time to see what all the buzz is about! With options like Capone's, Freiberg's, Mid City Grill, Russo's, and Taste Budz, there's something for everybody!
More info...
Also, check out the First Friday Myspace page to find information about past events - including pictures! - as well as staying updated on upcoming events.
For more First Friday info, call (423) 926-2931
7.26.2008
Hands On Museum Summer Golf Classic
Hands On! Summer Golf Classic
Monday, July 28, 9:00 - Hands On! Summer Golf Classic
Tee off for the 2nd Annual Hands On! Summer Golf Classic at the Johnson City Country Club at 9:00 am, Monday, July 28th. Breakfast will be provided by Hardee’s with lunch by OJ Gardner’s Honey Hotdogs. Teams will compete in the Men’s or Women’s flight. Additional contests and hole-in-one prizes will be offered. For information, please contact Kim Hodge at (423) 434-HAND ext. 106 or e-mail development@handsonmuseum.org or visithttp://www.handsonmuseum.org/partners/events.html
7.25.2008
Liberty: The Saga of Sycamore Shoals ( Elizabethton , TN )
Liberty: The Saga of Sycamore Shoals ( Elizabethton , TN )
Celebrating 30 years of outdoor drama at Sycamore Shoals Historic Area! Opening on Thursday, July 10th and running or three weekends, Thursday – Saturday each week, July 10-12; July 17-19; July 24-26, 2008. As you stand on the grounds of Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area, you stand on the very lands where historical events of monumental significance have taken place. It is here, that families came together, made their homes, formed a new government, bought & traded land from the Cherokee, and ultimately, fought for the freedom we hold so dear today. The series of events that unfolded at Sycamore Shoals were critical to state and national history in the 18th century. These dramatic chapters in America 's westward expansion set the tone for a number of events that helped propel the British colonies towards independence and a democratic form of government. Sycamore Shoals was the site of the first permanent American settlement outside the 13 original colonies. It was here that the Watauga Association, the first majority-rule system of American democratic government was formed when, in 1772, the settlers elected five of their number to "govern and direct for the common good of all the people." These Articles of the Watauga Association invested in those elected representatives the legislative, judicial and executive functions of their fledgling government. Sycamore Shoals was a busy area as the 1700's drew to a close, as it became a hub for pioneers from North Carolina and Virginia , who were pushing westward and settling along the Watauga River . Trails connected the Watauga Settlement to Fort Patrick Henry and Fort Robinson near present day Kingsport , Sapling Grove ( Bristol ), Wolf Hills ( Abingdon , VA ) and Rocky Mount , located between Johnson City and Bristol , which later became the territorial capital of the Southwest Territory . It was at Sycamore Shoals in March 1775 that the largest private real estate transaction in the nation's history took place, the Transylvania Purchase. A company led by Richard Henderson of North Carolina bought 20 million acres of land, stretching from the Cumberland River watershed to the Kentucky River . The Transylvania Company paid the Cherokees 2,000 pounds sterling and goods worth an additional 8,000 pounds for the land. Prior to the deal being closed, Native Americans totaling more than 1,200 spent weeks in counsel at Sycamore Shoals debating the merits of the deal. Cherokee warrior Dragging Canoe was firmly against giving up the land and resisted the deal but was overridden by Chief Little Carpenter who ignored his misgivings and signed the deed amid great ceremony and celebration. The settlers constructed a stockade, Fort Watauga, opposite Sycamore Shoals and it became a refuge for them when, less than a year after the Transylvania deal, Dragging Canoe, aided by English agents, waged war against the pioneers, determined to drive them from the lands they had purchased. The slate of leaders at the fort reads like a roster of state and national historical figures. The commanders included Col. John Carter, Capt. James Robertson, who would found Nashville , a few years later, and Lt. John Sevier, the man who would be Tennessee 's first governor. A band of warriors under Old Abram of Chilhowee laid siege to the fort for approximately two weeks but when the settlers refused to surrender, the Indians gave up and departed. Perhaps the most significant event associated with Sycamore Shoals was the muster of the "Overmountain Men" militia who fought and defeated a Loyalist army at the Battle of Kings Mountain. The British were gaining an upper hand in the South during the fall of 1780. With Lord Cornwallis'' defeat of General Gates at Camden , SC the Carolinas had no defense except for Patriot militia. British Major Patrick Ferguson was given command of the Loyalist militia in the Carolinas . If the "rebels" did not cease their opposition to the Crown, he threatened to "march his army over the mountains, hang the leaders and lay waste their country with fire and sword." Colonels Isaac Shelby and John Sevier decided on a plan to gather militia units from the Overmountain settlements and attack Ferguson . On September 25, 1780, approximately 1,100 men gathered at Sycamore Shoals and marched in pursuit of Major Ferguson and his Loyalists. These "Overmountain Men", as they became known, caught Ferguson on October 7 at King's Mountain in South Carolina and soundly defeated the British forces with Ferguson being killed in the hour-long battle. The victory of the "Overmountain Men" at King's Mountain is considered by many historians to be a turning point in the Revolutionary War. Indeed, Sir Henry Clinton, commander of British forces in America , later pronounced Ferguson 's defeat at King's Mountain as "the first link in a chain of events that followed each other in regular succession until they at last ended in the total loss of America ." Years later Thomas Jefferson called the event "that memorable victory the joyful annunciation of that turn of the tide of success, which terminated the Revolutionary War with the seal of independence." Please call (423) 543-5808 for additional information.
The Bakken Formation
See: http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Bakken_Formation
1. Have you ever heard of the Bakken Formation? GOOGLE it. I did, and again, it BLEW my mind. The U.S. Geological Service issued a report in April ('08) that only scientists and oilmen knew was coming. Man, was it big! It was a revised report (It hadn't been updated since '95) on how much oil was in this area of the western 2/3 of North Dakota; western South Dakota; and extreme eastern Montana ... check THIS out:
The Bakken is the largest domestic oil discovery since Alaska's Prudhoe Bay, and has the potential to eliminate all American dependence on foreign oil.. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates it at 503 billion barrels. Even if just 10% of the oil is recoverable. .. at $107 a barrel, we're looking at a resource base worth more than $5.3 trillion.
'When I first briefed legislators on this, you could practically see their jaws hit the floor. They had no idea.' says Terry Johnson, the Montana Legislature' s financial analyst.
'This sizeable find is now the highest-producing onshore oil field found in the past 56 years,' reports The Pittsburgh Post Gazette.
It's a formation known as the Williston Basin, but is more commonly referred to as the 'Bakken,' and it stretches from Northern Montana, through North Dakota and into Canada.
For years, U.S. oil exploration has been considered a dead end. Even the 'Big Oil' companies gave up searching for major oil wells decades ago. However, a recent technological breakthrough has opened up the Bakken's massive reserves... and this country now has access of up to 500 billion barrels. And, because this is light, sweet oil, those billions of barrels will cost Americans just $16 PER BARREL!
That's enough crude to fully fuel the American economy for 41 years straight..
2. And, if THAT didn't throw you to the floor, then this next one should, because it's from TWO YEARS AGO!
U.S. Oil Discovery- Largest Reserve in the World!
Stansberry Report Online - 4/20/2006
Hidden 1,000 feet beneath the surface of the Rocky Mountains lies the largest untapped oil reserve in the world, and has more than 2 TRILLION barrels. On August 8, 2005 President Bush mandated its extraction. What is going on?
They reported this stunning news: The United States have more oil inside their borders, than all the other proven reserves on earth. Here are the official estimates:
-8-times as much oil as Saudi Arabia
-18-times as much oil as Iraq
-21-times as much oil as Kuwait
-22-times as much oil as Iran
-500-times as much oil as Yemen, and it's all right here in the Western United States.
HOW can this BE? HOW can we NOT be extracting this? Because we have not DEMANDED Legislation out of the Congress in Washington, allowing its extraction, that's why!
James Bartis, lead researcher with the study, says we've got more oil in this very compact area than the entire Middle East, more than 2 TRILLION barrels. Untapped. That's more than all the proven oil reserves of crude oil in the world today, reports The Denver Post.
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So, you don't you think 'Big Oil' will drop its price, even with this find? Think again! It's all about the competitive marketplace, and if they can extract it (here) for less, they can afford to sell it for less - and if they DON'T, others will. It will come down! It has to.
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Got your attention yet? Hope so! Now, while you're thinking about it ... and hopefully you are pissed off, do this:
3. Take 5-10 minutes and compose a fax or write a good old-fashioned letter to the elected officials in Washington D.C., and their respected leaders.
We'll start with them. You can send your elected Congressmen a letter, or fax, DEMANDING the immediate Legislation for an Energy Plan. Mention that this plan should call for tapping into the U.S. Petroleum Reserves, as well as allowing for drilling in the U.S. offshore waters and U.S. Continental Shelf, not to mention Alaska.
Technology is not what it used to be. Have you ever had arthroscopic surgery? They can "surgically" extract the oil, and get us on the way to at least some measure of energy independence.
If you don't take a little time to do this, then you should stifle yourself the next time you want to complain about gas prices. Because, by doing NOTHING, you've forfeited your right to complain!
Author Unknown
This is not Tri-Cities local only information, but it's applies to all of us.
I received this email & I checked it out on snopes.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/bakken.asp
7.10.2008
St. John Mill in Watauga, Tennessee
St. John Mill/ Watauga
One step through the wide front door of the St. John Mill took me back thirty years. There was the smell of chicken feed and a creaky wooden floor. Natural light poured through the high old windows, and handwritten signs advertised a bin of axe and broom handles. I felt like a little girl who had fallen into an old book, maybe a Laura Ingalls mercantile, where time slowed down and invited me to browse.
Located in Washington County’s Watauga region, St. John’s Mill was founded in 1778. America was two-years-old when St. John’s began grinding life into our region. And now, over 200 years later, the mill is still operating -- making it Tennessee’s oldest business.
In our modern world, consumable product is often far-removed from its source. So, my kids found it particularly fascinating to look at the feed grinder process. Stacks of empty feed sacks lay waiting for the day’s fresh batch of horse feed or ground corn. Filled bags rested in neat stacks along the wall. We were enthralled with this life-size Rokenbok operation. We all put our faces into the tops of the different feed stacks and smelled the differences. The sweet feed was our favorite, reminding us somehow of molasses and the state fair.
As we stepped into the main room of the mill, we met a gregarious older gentleman with a wide smile. Ron Dawson, the owner, gave us a quick tour of his shop. There were homemade soaps, and quilts, and local honey, and sauces. His shelves were packed full of products made in our region. These were unique items made by people I could meet if I just called a number on the label. I like that.
While we were talking, Mr. Dawson pulled some coins out of his pocket. My kids enjoyed watching him transform two nickels back and forth into a half dollar, an old magic trick. Then, he taught them the secret to the trick, so they could practice at home. Before he had finished, a small crowd had gathered to watch the show.
When I asked Mr. Dawson about keeping a small-town business alive in a Wal-Mart world, he smiled. He said that his goal was to offer the type of products a bigger store could not; items that were grown out of the talents of our region.
As I packed kids back into our van and drove back to my modern life, I couldn’t stop thinking about Mr. Dawson’s coin trick. He had hidden a half dollar behind a nickel by holding the coins at a unique angle in his hand. The larger was hidden by the smaller. It was a perfect visual for St. John’s Mill. At first glance, his business seems small and simple. However, if you are willing to look a little further, you can find such greater worth. A small local provider is offering the richness of our community back to our community. That’s a treasure worth exploring from a different angle.
| Feature Story By Rebecca Reynolds | |
