Cherokee County NC Blog

Join us in historic downtown Andrews, NC. Andrews Valley Experience, October 11-18, 2008.

* Street festival featuring local arts and crafts
* Music: Bluegrass to classical
* Morning inspirationals
* Plays by local playwrights
* Lectures and discussions of world affairs and historical events

For more information, call 800-689-2793 or visit WWW.Chautauqua-Ave.org.

More than 200 one-of-a-kind handcrafted items have been donated by instructors, students, and Folk School supporters, and will be up for bid this Saturday, August 16 at the annual Benefit Auction.

Donations include something from almost every discipline taught at the Folk School, including pottery, ironwork, basketry, wood items, dolls, paintings, weavings, rugs, jewelry, furniture and more. All Auction proceeds will benefit the Folk School’s craft programs.

Auction Events (free admission, no reservations required):
1 - 2 p.m. - Silent Auction
1 - 2 p.m. - Live Auction Preview
2 - 5 p.m. - Live Auction with Tim Ryan & Bob Grove

A lunch buffet will be served at noon in the Folk School’s Dining Hall. Reservations are required for lunch and space is limited. Cost for the lunch is $12.00 per person.

For more information, see the Folk School Benefit Auction page on the John C Campbell Folk School website.

Come see the newest project in Cherokee County, NC - the grand opening of the Mountain Morning retail store on Saturday, September 22, 2007 from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm.

Mountain morning products were established with the belief that the old crafts and unique skills that have been handed down through the generations are still in the hearts and hands of our people.

• Weekly classes offered in a variety of areas
• Over 600 items currently available
• Website coming soon for e-commerce

Mountain Morning
1158C Main Street
Andrews, NC 28901

At the corner of Main and Oak Streets, just east of Andrews Town Hall.

Phone: 828-321-2730
Email: mountainmorning@verizon.net

The store will be open Thursday through Saturday, 10:00 am until 5:00 pm. Office is open Monday through Thursday, 10:00 am until 5:00 pm.

Mountain Morning is the newest project of Far West Mountain Economic Partners.

A tradition of service, a future of commitment

• Affordable housing repair
• Financial literacy
• Area farmers market
• Free tax preparation
• Advocates of state earned income tax credit
• Regional visitors guide
• Gifts of Kindness product distribution
• Mountain Morning retail store

Far West Mountain Economic Partners
1158C Main Street
Andrews, NC 28901

Phone: 828-321-2929
Toll free: 877-321-2929
Fax: 828-321-2900
Email: fwpartners@verizon.net

Come celebrate Independence Day in downtown Murphy, NC and in Konehete Park on Wednesday, July 4, 2007.

Events will be held all day from 8:00 am until after dark when you can watch the Grand Finale Fireworks Show!

You’ll find tasty food and refreshing drinks for sale, and your family can enjoy a full day of activities. Arts and crafts will be on sale by our talented artists and you can purchase perfect gifts for friends and family - or for yourself!

Activities Schedule

8:00 am: 5K run in the park

9:00 am: Men’s softball tournament

10:00 am: Dog show and parade

11:00 am: Fishing tournament in the park

12:00 noon: Peanut drop in the park

12:00 noon: Car show (from noon until 5:00 pm)

1:00 pm: Wheels and Walking Kids Parade

2:00 pm: Float parade starts at L&N Depot

All day: Live music on two stages, food booths, arts and crafts booths, field games.

After dark: Grand Finale Fireworks Show (rain date for fireworks only is July 5)

Stage 1

3:00 pm - 3:40 pm: Barbershop Quartet

3:40 pm - 4:00 pm: Ryan Dockery

4:15 pm - 4:45 pm: Dance Classics

5:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Bowery Boys Blues Band

6:15 pm - 6:45 pm: Tim the Magician and Butterfly the Clown

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Bowery Boys Blues Band

Stage 2

3:15 pm - 3:45 pm: Enchanted Valley Squares (Hiawassee, Georgia), Murphy Rounds (Dance)

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Sanctified

5:15 pm - 5:45 pm: Dance Classics

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Effigy

Sponsors

Stars and Stripes Sponsors

Curtis Signs

The Cherokee Scout

Firecracker Sponsors

The Cherokee Sentinel

Smoky Mountain Trophies

Tripps Outback

Sparkler Sponsors

Benchmark Realty and Construction

Carolina Buggies and Custom Golf Carts

Cricket Hollow Design

Indian Hills Spring Water

KIA of Murphy

WNC Visitor Center

Bring a lawn chair and enjoy the fun!

Call Marie at 828-835-8821 for more information.

Organized by The Business Women of Murphy, the Cherokee County Recreation Department and Town of Murphy.

Events and times are subject to change without notice.

Bear Ridge Mall will hold their Grand Opening today in Andrews, North Carolina.

There will be lots of activities, music, food, and shopping for the entire family.

Every 30 minutes there will be a drawing for a free item or a discounted item. Every hour there will be a cash giveaway.

At 5:00 pm, the mall will hold the “Big Bear” big cash giveaway and you must be present to win this prize.

The event starts at 10:00 am.

At 11:00 am, there will be a peanut drop.

12:15 pm brings the Flag Ceremony with the VFW, Color Guard, US Marine Corps League, and the Boy Scouts. There will be a display of military uniforms from the Civil War era to the present. If you have any old, worn American flags, the US Marine Corps League will help you dispose of them properly.

All day long, you will find great shopping, arts and crafts, kids bounce house, face painting, balloons, games, magician and clown. Enjoy the pony and wagon rides.

There will be lots of food and great shopping.

Stage 1 will feature the Battle of the Bands from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm.

Beginning at 10:00 am, Stages 2 and 3 will feature magic shows and live music with the following groups performing for you:

Stage 2:

10:00 am - 11:00 am: Cracker Box Magic Show

11:15 am - 11:45 am: Brady Hughes

12:00 noon - 1:45 pm: Brother Henry

2:00 pm - 3:45 pm: Rob Tiger and Friends

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Bowery Blues Band

Stage 3:

10:00 am - 11:00 am: Bear Notes

11:15 am - 12:45 pm: Smoky Mountains Melody

1:00 pm - 1:45 pm: Magic Workshop

2:00 pm - 2:30 pm: Folk School Cloggers

2:45 pm - 4:00 pm: The Hitch Hikers

For more information, call Bear Ridge Mall at 828-321-2386

Friends of The Murphy Public Library will hold its annual auction on Saturday, June 9, 2007, at Bob Grove Auctions on US 64 East just past the river in Clay County, NC.

Silent auction starts at 5:00 pm.

Bob Grove lifts his gavel for the live auction at 7:00 pm.

Fine local crafts include Joe Miller ironwork, Charles Patricolo dolls, Dawn Gabrielli basket, Pete-Mar cottage cupboard, and Jane Hensley gift baskets, among many others.

There will be free refreshments.

More donations are needed.

For more information, call the library at 828-837-2417.

See more information about the Murphy Public Library on their website.

The Business Women of Murphy, in conjunction with the Cherokee County Recreation Department and Town of Murphy, are organizing a Fourth of July Hometown Celebration that will begin at 8:00 am with a 5K run and end with a spectacular fireworks display at 10:00 pm.

A dog show and parade, organized by Lisa DiCuffa, will take place downtown, followed by a kids “wheels and walking” parade and a float parade.

Other events will take place at Konehete Park, including a fishing tournament, field games, live music on two stages, a men’s softball tournament, car show, peanut drop, food booths, and, of course, the grand finale - a fireworks show.

The Business Women of Murphy are looking for corporate sponsors, crafters, and food vendors who would like to take part in this fun family event.

Crafters should call Linda Bamfield at 828-361-6848.

Food vendors should call Bonnie Kotchenreuther at 828-361-1027.

Scout troops, 4-H, or any organization or club that wants to march or have a float in the parade may call Linda Hurd, parade organizer, at 828-361-3707.

Anyone interested in participating in a “pick up” marching band and has his or her own instrument may call Hurd for details.

Contacts for other events include: 5K run: Jeff Keen at 828-835-7200; dog parade: Lisa DiCuffa at 828-361-6060; kids and float parade and car show: Linda Hurd at 828-837-3374; other general information: Marie Speigel at 828-835-8821.

Corporate sponsorships are available in the following increments: Stars and Stripes: $1,000, Firecracker: $500, Sparkler: $250. For more information, call Tammi Johnson at 828-361-6930.

One Leg Up - June 8, 2007 - 7:30 pm

Admission: Free, donations welcome

Location: Festival Barn

One Leg Up, from Asheville, NC, has been performing since 2003.

This Parisian style of jazz is upbeat acoustic swing with a repertoire of 1920s, 30s, and 40s jazz standards, originals, modern jazz tunes, and of course, music from the book of the virtuoso guitarist Django Reinhardt.

This style of jazz is popular in clubs and festivals throughout Europe, yet it is underrepresented in America. One Leg Up is one of the few bands that plays this music in the southeast.

The musicians are John Stineman (guitar & vocal), Jim Tanner (guitar), Daniel Coolik (mandolin), Mike Guzalak (clarinet and vocals), Cary Fridley (bass & vocals), and guest violinist Steve Trismen.

For more information about the John C. Campbell Folk School, its classes, crafts, and events, call 828-837-2775 or 1-800-FOLK-SCH (800-365-5724) or visit www.folkschool.org.

Their website has more information about the school, the Craft Shop, and their Concerts, Dances, and Events.

I want to thank my friend, Jerry Chautin, for alerting me to an article in the New York Times, A Basket Case in North Carolina, written by David Rakoff, and published on May 20, 2007.

In this article, the author talks about taking a week-long class at the John C Campbell Folk School, in Brasstown, NC.

Originally, like most men, he wanted to experience the thrill of blacksmithing, of smiting hot steel and shaping it into new forms with fire, hammer, and anvil, but (for reasons he details in the article) he changed to taking a basket weaving class.

As a true lover of the Folk School and all that goes on there, I felt the resonance of reading what I know to be true about the Folk School experience, not just what happens when taking a class and learning a new skill, or improving your ability to create pieces of art in your chosen craft.

Mr. Rakoff talks about the unexpected moments of silence and “getting into the zone” that artists strive for while transforming the vision in our minds into the item in our hands.

This is one of the best articles I’ve read about the Folk School, and I recommend it to you. I don’t know how long the New York Times keeps these articles archived, so maybe you should read A Basket Case in North Carolina, now.

(For more information about the John C. Campbell Folk School, its classes, crafts, and events, call 828-837-2775 or 1-800-FOLK-SCH (800-365-5724) or visit www.folkschool.org.)

The second annual Bluegrass to Blues Festival will be held on June 2, 2007 in scenic Andrews, North Carolina.

The festival starts at 10:00 am and will showcase more than twenty bands performing on five stages throughout town. Groups will come from all over the Southeast and the Bluegrass to Blues Festival is gaining the reputation of showcasing a variety of excellent new musicians from all genres including blues, country, pop, rock, bluegrass, and gospel.

In addition to the music, visitors to the festival can look forward to a variety of food and local mountain craft vendors.

The festival will appeal to visitors of all ages.

The event is sponsored by local businesses and the town government and is organized by John Hensley of the Andrews Merchants and Business Association.

Celebrating Smoky Mountain Culture for a century, the Andrews Valley will be the place to be on June 2nd 2007. So get out of the city for the weekend, bring the kids and spend a magical day in the mountains you won’t forget.

For more information, contact the Andrews Merchant Business Association at 828-557-1704.