New Museum opening in East Tennessee

East Tennessee State University is opening a new museum this summer - just off Interstate 26. Soon, fans of fossils will be able to get a nearby fix, without having to go out west!

Discovered by a highway construction crew in 2000 during a road widening project, the Gray Fossil site was determined to be from the late Miocene in age (between 7-4.5 million years ago). This is the only Miocene site in Appalachia.

The road was rerouted to avoid the fossil site, and money was appropriated for a museum.

The 33,000-square-foot visitor's center will be adjacent to State Route 75 less than two miles from I-26 in an area that does not intrude on the dig site. The location of the visitors center provides easy access to the site for travelers from the region.
The center will include storage space for the fossil collection, a preparation lab, a museum, an education center, and a workshop for display construction and assembly of the fossils.

Music Program at the Jackson County Library

Tuesday, April 24th at 3:00 P.M.  Tim Beck will be leading a music program for home schooled children/families.  For more information call the JCL at 586-2016.  All Are Welcome! 

Homeschool Day at PARI - May 4, 2007

 

It is time once again for the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) to conduct our Spring Homeschool Day at PARI. The November program was a great success. We have developed all new programs for the session which will be held on Friday, May 4, 2007. The see a fact sheet, the schedule of classes, the curriculum and the registration form, go to http://www.pari.edu/programs/students/Homeschool on our website. You can also find direction on how to get to PARI at http://www.pari.edu/directions. We are limited to 100 students, so it is important to register as soon as possible.

 

We hope you and your student(s) can make it.

 

 

David E. Clavier, Ph.D.

Vice President of Administration & Development

Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute

One PARI Drive

Rosman, NC 28772

(828) 966-4097

Main (828) 862-5554

Fax (828) 862-5877

Cell (828) 553-9713

dclavier@pari.edu

 

Teachers' Night at City Lights Bookstore

Join City Lights children's bookseller Jenifer Ross on Tuesday, May 1st at 6:00 P.M. for an evening devoted to teachers.  She will present the newest books for children of all ages, K - High School.  Lots of giveaways and door prizes such as posters, advance reading copies, reading guides, activity sheets, and more.  Light refreshments will be provided.

Please note that this event, which will run from 6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M., is geared toward teachers and is not intended as a parent/child activity.

For more information call 586-9499 or toll-free (888) 853-6298  ~  www.citylightsnc.com 

The store is located in Sylva.   

Easter Egg Hunt Photos

You can view pictures of the Easter Egg Hunt here

Don't Miss 'Kilowatt Ours' at Library on Monday

Kilowatt Ours
Monday, April 16th at 5:30 pm

Vance and I saw this film a couple of months ago - it's focused on where a lot of our energy comes from (coal), the impact of strip mining, but more importantly, what each of us can do to save energy. The last part of the film talks about what steps a normal family can take to save energy, specifically the savings in energy usage (and dollars!) possible by swapping over to Compact Florescent Lights (CFLs, now available at most stores that sell light bulbs).

It's a really cute film that packs a powerful message. Vance came home a convert, and really took an interest in saving energy (he faithfully turns out the light in his room now after viewing this film, and hounded me until we swapped over most of our lights to CFLs).

Highly recommended! There was a decent sized crowd to view 'An Inconvienent Truth' last week, so you probably won't be sitting by yourself ;-) - Mark

Reminder: Big Read at Library starting next week

The Big Read for this year is Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird

Friday, April 20th
5:30 pm

Join Janet Smith, local teacher and parent of a teen, as she leads a discussion with teens and their parents on Harper Lee's classic story of tolerance and justice.

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Thursday, April 26th
5:30 pm

Janice Inabinett, Recognized Story-teller and Bryson City native will lead a book discussion.

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Friday, May 4th
5:30 pm

A showing of the classic film 'To Kill a Mockingbird", starring Gregory Peck - followed by a discussion of the movie and the book.




All programs held at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City

A Bone-afide Good Time

On Saturday, April 21, Chimney Rock Park is going to the dogs with our 3rd Annual Bark in the Park. We're cooking up a tail-waggin' good time for Fido and his friends from 11am-3pm. There is no additional fee other than the normal park entrance.

We're excited to have a very special guest at this year's event, Maggie the Wonder Dog. Maggie has a full bag of tricks, but perhaps the most impressive is her knack for math. Yes, math! She's been on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Animal Planet's Pet Star. Maggie will show off her skills at noon and 1pm. We promise you'll be as smitten with her as we are!

Blue Ridge Agility Club is back with agility demos. Watch talented dogs jump, weave and run through an obstacle course and find out what it takes to train your pooch to do the same. Working dogs from Possum Hollow Farms will demonstrate herding skills. The Guide Dog Foundation will be on hand with dogs in training to help people with special needs.

Several animal rescue agencies will raise awareness of the needs of animals in our community and show you how you can help. The Blue Ridge Humane Society will have dogs that need good homes. Perhaps you'll find a new member of the family. Plus, canine caricatures, pet and owner look-a-like contest, most phenomenal pet trick contest and lots more!

Puppeteer Coming to Discovery Camp at Tremont

First Ever Artists-In-Residence During Summer Camp

This summer we are excited to welcome puppeteer artist Hobey Ford to summer camp. Hobey will be our first ever Artist-In-Residence at Discovery Camp, June 11-16 and June 25-30. Hobey is the winner of puppetry's highest honor, the UNIMA Citation of Excellence, and recipient of three Jim Henson Foundation grants. He travels around the country and is widely known for his excellence in puppetry performance and craft.

During Discovery Camp, Hobey will conduct his Shadow Puppetry Workshop, which combines storytelling with shadow puppetry bringing a variety of cultures to life through folktales. During the workshop students will learn shadow puppetry performance techniques and how to construct their own shadow puppets. Each student will construct a puppet and get to work with Hobey.

In addition, Hobey will perform his newest production, "Animalia". The performance explores the magical world of animals with Hobey’s "Foamie" puppets – large animal puppets carved from blocks of foam. After studying each animal's characteristic movements, he designs various control mechanisms to make the puppets themselves move in a life-like manner. For each performance he utilizes the entire theater as his stage.

As our artist-in-residence, Hobey will be eating with us and staying on site, and will also lead several Nature Clubs, a regular part of the Discovery Camp experience. For an artist to come live with us for several days, giving campers the chance to interact with him on a personal basis, is a real treat. Sign your child up early this year for Discovery Camp!

For more information refer to the Tremont Discovery Camp Website

Friends of the Library To Host Coffee-House Event with Live Music

Sunday, April 15 - 2:30 pm

Everyone is invited to the library auditorium for fresh, home-baked desserts, drinks and traditional acoustic music provided by Larry Barnett and George Kraushaar. Both play a variety of instruments, including guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle and squeeze box.

All proceeds from the sale of food and drink go toward new books and videos for the collection, programs for the children such as storytime, the summer reading program and Family Movie Day, as well as adult programs.

Even if you can't stay for the music, please stop by for a dessert and cup of coffee to support the library.

At 1:30 prior to the music, you are invited to the Friends Annual Meeting. Find out how you can get involved to help improve the library.