Tuesday, March 20, 2007
HERITAGE ARTS ENRICHMENT PROGRAM FOR YOUTH
FIRE YOUR IMAGINATION!
June 11-15 and June 18-22
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Open to Youth Ages 8-14
SCC - Swain Center Campus
$87.50 per week
Register by June 4th
Call 488-3848 for more info (Nira Franklin/Hank Shuler)
'Join other youth for a week (or two) exploring old and new traditions. Giggle, mold clay, learn how to earn money, meet new friends, make puppets, have fun, and much, much, more!'
Sponsored by SCC and Swain County Cooperative Extension - 4-H Program
Update: Vance participated in this last year, and really enjoyed himself - Mark Tyson.
Update: Vance participated in this last year, and really enjoyed himself - Mark Tyson.
The Vernal Equinox is Today - March 20, 2007
The Rite of Spring
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March 20, 2007, is a date that most of us recognize as symbolic of changing seasons. As we welcome spring, people south of the equator are actually gearing up for the cooler temperatures of autumn.
What Happens at the Equinox?
Far from being an arbitrary indicator of the changing seasons, March 20 (March 21 in some years) is significant for astronomical reasons. On March 20, 2007, at precisely 8:07 P.M. EDT (March 21, 00:07 Universal Time), the Sun will cross directly over the Earth's equator. This moment is known as the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. For the Southern Hemisphere, this is the moment of the autumnal equinox.
Equinox Means "Equal Night"
Translated literally, equinox means "equal night." Because the sun is positioned above the equator, day and night are about equal in length all over the world during the equinoxes. A second equinox occurs each year on September 22 or 23; in 2007, it will be on September 23 at 5:51 A.M. EDT (09:51 UT). This date will mark the autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and the vernal equinox in the Southern (vernal denotes "spring").
Reasons for the Seasons
These brief but monumental moments owe their significance to the 23.4 degree tilt of the Earth's axis. Because of the tilt, we receive the Sun's rays most directly in the summer. In the winter, when we are tilted away from the Sun, the rays pass through the atmosphere at a greater slant, bringing lower temperatures. If the Earth rotated on an axis perpendicular to the plane of the Earth's orbit around the Sun, there would be no variation in day lengths or temperatures throughout the year, and we would not have seasons.
Rituals and Traditions
Modern astronomy aside, people have recognized the vernal equinox for thousands of years. There is no shortage of rituals and traditions surrounding the coming of spring. Many early peoples celebrated for the basic reason that their food supplies would soon be restored. The date is significant in Christianity because Easter always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. It is also probably no coincidence that early Egyptians built the Great Sphinx so that it points directly toward the rising Sun on the day of the vernal equinox.
The first day of spring also marks the beginning of Nowruz, the Persian New Year. The celebration lasts 13 days and is rooted in the 3,000-year-old tradition of Zorastrianism.
The first day of spring also marks the beginning of Nowruz, the Persian New Year. The celebration lasts 13 days and is rooted in the 3,000-year-old tradition of Zorastrianism.
Monday, March 19, 2007
SMCT Holding Auditions for Pied Piper
The Smoky Mountain Community Theater will hold auditions for 'The Pied Piper' on Monday, March 26th and Tuesday, March 27 at 6:30pm in the theater on Main Street in Bryson City.
Auditions are open to anyone nine years old and older. Person's auditioning for the Pied Piper must be able to play a musical instrument. Please bring your instrument with you to auditions.
The Spring Production will be May 3,4,5,6,11,12,13 and 14 at 7:30 PM. Cast includes 3 males, 6 females and 1 male/female for the lead role.
For information contact Teresa at 488-3489 or visit the website
USAF Clarinet Quartet at Swain Acts Center
You are invited to attend the US Air Force American Clarinet Quartet Concert free of charge on March 27 at 7:00 pm at Swain County Center for the Arts. They will be performing a wide variety of music that spans over 250 years. The concert will last about 1 1/2 hours and should be over by 8:30 pm. Hope you can come and bring your family to show support and to take advantage of this concert by professional musicians in uniform.
The four members of the American Clarinet Quartet are part of the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band, a 60-member ensemble based at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. The quartet performs Air Force community relations music programs at such varied venues as concert halls, schools, museums, hospitals, retirement homes, churches and theaters throughout the United States. In addition to formal concerts, the quartet presents master classes and clinics at the elementary, secondary and collegiate levels.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
The Incredibles at MBL Library on Monday
Family Movie Day At The Marianna Black Library
Mondays – 3:30 pm
March 26 - Cars
Movies are FREE and projected onto an 8 x 10 ft. screen in the auditorium. Popcorn and refreshments provided
Capital Fest 2007 - MARCH 27, 2007 : Downtown RALEIGH
For the last decade, the Governor has proclaimed a week in March as "Homeschool Education Week". Every two years, hundreds of homeschoolers descend on the North Carolina capital to meet and greet the legislators. NCHE has arranged a special day full of activities for NC Homeschoolers to meet their legislators, enjoy museums and special workshops on North Carolina's legislative and judicial system. We've even arranged for parking and a shuttle! The bus will run from 8:00am to 5:30pm and will pick homeschoolers up from the Farmer's Market (Google Map Link) and drop them off in front of the General Assembly on the History and Science Museum side of the street.
Box Lunches from Chick-fil-A available for preorder: $5.50
- Chicken Sandwich
- Chips
- Carrot Raisin salad
- Brownie
- Soft Drink
Please order your Chick-fil-A lunch by March 19, 2007.
Click here to go to the NCHE website
Schedule:
All sessions will meet in the auditorium in the General Assembly Building. Seating is limited so please register for those session(s) you would like to attend. Note that Session 1 and Session 5 are repeats, as well as Session 4 and Session 6
8:00am - Registration (Check-in)
9:00am - Session 1 The Three Branches of Government, Dr. Eric Root
10:00am - Session 2 History of Judicial System in NC, Judge Paul Newby
11:00am - Session 3 Group Meeting with Legislators
12:00 noon - Lunch, Meet and Greet Legislators, Entertainment
1:00pm - Session 4 Mock Legislative Committee Meeting, Joseph Wirtz
2:00pm - Session 5 The Three Branches of Government, Dr. Eric Root
3:00pm - Session 6 Mock Legislative Committee Meeting, Joseph Wirtz
12:45 to 4:00 - Tours:
Schedule tours for the Legislative Building, Capitol building, Science and History museums.
Call Jackie Parrish at 919-807-7947 for reservations.
Maps & Directions:
Capital area - Map showing downtown, parking and science museum
Teaching Aids:
State Capital Resources
Welcome to the State Capital of North Carolina
NC General Assembly
Educational booklets (pdf links below)
Middle School: NC Government
Elementary: An Introduction to the NC General Assembly
NCHE Recommends:
Making it a legislative field trip day
Set an appointment with your legislator and bring a small gift, cookies.
Finding your legislators: Who Represents Me?
Attire and Conduct
Wear name tags - name, group, county.
We are representing homeschooling and NCHE: dressing up is a mark of respect for the legislators. Let's make a good impression.
Wear your NCHE pins.
RULES FOR VISITING GROUPS:
(From the Science site): Form a line outside. Group leader must register in the lobby prior to entry. Groups should not gather in front of elevators, escalators, or doors. Teachers and chaperones are responsible for the conduct of their groups.
Students must be under direct adult supervision at all times while in the building, including the Museum Store and escalators. Please use the escalators. Elevators are available for persons with disabilities. Stairs are for emergency use only.
Touch exhibits only where permitted. Never tap on exhibits where live animals are kept. Students must use "inside voices". Encourage students to listen for the many natural sounds in the exhibits (whale songs, bird calls, frog choruses, etc.). No food, gum, or drink is permitted in the exhibit halls
Other Opportunities:
NCGA - Senate Page Program
Apply through NCHE
NCGA - House of Representatives Page Program
Apply through NCHE
Saturday, March 17, 2007
On Stage in NC
'FIND YOUR PASSION
Any event, anywhere, anytime, online.
If it's on stage in North Carolina, it's at
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