Stories of Mountain Folk for 3-22-14

Stories of Mountain Folk is a weekly podcast produced by Catch the Spirit of Appalachia and archived at Western Carolina University.

March 22, 2014:
 

Storytelling: Today Amy Talks about the inspiration of her grandfather, as she tells the story of "Grandpa Told Me Stories."  Music:  “A Rose in a Fire”

 

Creative Corner:  Doreyl's guest is Brenda Deyton from Robbinsville, who shares her personal story of how she came to write a book on finances. Music: “Moose” by Banjo Mania.

 

Stories of Mountain Folk: Amy's guest is  once more 71-year-old Phyllis Fox from Savannah Community in Jackson County, who shares her experiences as a volunteer in the county.  Music: "Lost All My Money But A Two Dollar Bill" by Earl Taylor & Jim McCall

 

Stories of the Cherokee:  Today we introduce Shawn Crowe as our new interviewer/storyteller from Cherokee, who shares stories about "witches" and then presents Jerry Wolf with an original Cherokee legend.  Music is by Bo Taylor.

 

Going Down Another Road: Judy shares some memories of her uncle and aunt who have made an impression upon her life.  Music:  "Silent Night" and"This is My Story" by Judy's family.

 

Closing Song: "Old Friend" by Terry Edwards.

CLICK HERE to listen to Stories of Mountain Folk 

Carolina Public Press Reports Asheville Metro and WNC Countywide Joblessness Increases

March 25, 2014 - Unemployment across the 18 westernmost counties of North Carolina increased in January -- just as it did in the Asheville metropolitan statistical area -- according to data recently released by the state employment office.

Unemployment rates ranged from a low in Polk County of 4.9 to a high in Graham County of 14.4. The majority of WNC Counties continue higher rates than the national average although current rates are improved in the area from this time last year. 

Get the full report and READ MORE on Carolina Public Press...

The Adventure Center of Asheville Offers New Features for 2014

Get ready for three exciting new adventures coming this spring to the Adventure Center of Asheville.  Not only is ACA adding 10 new elements to the popular Treetops Adventure Park, but construction will soon be under way on the KidZip zipline tour, a full zipline tour for kids.

Also coming this spring, The Tree Climbing Adventure.  A tree based vertical climb using rock holds (like on a climbing wall) secured onto trees. For more information on these exciting new activities contact The Adventure Center of Asheville at 225-2921 or reservations at 800-451-9972.

The Asheville Treetops Adventure Park is a relatively new Asheville Attraction comprised of 50 unique climbing, zipping, walking, jumping, swinging, and rappelling challenges anchored to over 30 trees and towering poles tucked into a wooded park just minutes from downtown Asheville. Asheville Treetops Adventure Park has four different adventure trails that allow Park Guests the choice to challenge only the obstacles they feel comfortable with. While you explore the park you will move at your own pace and tackle challenges as an individual, instead of in a group, like the canopy tour experience. Think of it as ski slopes in the trees and a true "Jungle Gym" for all ages, strengths, and adventure levels.  Challenges include zipline kayaking, snowboarding, hula hoop swinging, and many more unique elements.  The Center and Park is located adjacent to the Crowne Plaza Resort at 1 Resort Drive in Asheville. Take Exit 3A off of I-240,  Off Patton Ave behind Regent Park.

Sci-Fi Movie Features Brown Mountain Lights

April 1, 2014 Burke County Tourism will be hosting the official Premiere of "Alien Abduction" at Marquee Cinemas in Morganton, the home of the BROWN MOUNTAIN LIGHTS. Followed by a Q&A with Director Matty Beckerman.  Nationwide release of the film is April 4.

The film was shot on location in Burke, Avery and Watauga counties.  Burke County's mysterious Brown Mountain Lights,  a natural phenomenon seen for centuries near their namesake mountain, play an integral role in Alien Abduction, a highly-anticipated sci-fi thriller.

Director Matty Beckerman and producer Cathy Beckerman, both of Los Angeles, will be on hand for the premiere, and will host a Q-and-A session following the 7:00 PM screening.

Beckerman grew up on the East Coast and learned about the Brown Mountain Lights as a kid visiting his grandparents' house in Blowing Rock. During those visits he also experienced the remoteness of North Carolina's mountains, and combined those two ideas into a fictitious story that involves the lights and the disappearance of people.

"We would often get lost on some of the back roads. I remember sitting in the car and daydreaming about what would happen if we really got lost," Beckerman said. "What would happen if our entire family got lost? That was the inspiration. That's where I started."The movie uses the found-footage format to tell the story from the viewpoint of a family on a camping trip to Brown Mountain. Beckerman describes it as a "psychological thriller" that does not rely on blood and gore to stir emotion. "Sometimes the things you hear affect you more than the things you see," he said.

Burke County tourism director Ed Phillips was instrumental in bringing the world premiere to Morganton, and feels it will generate renewed interest in the mysterious lights.

"Even though the film is spooky and scary, it will definitely bring attention to the lights. We already have a business in Morganton offering guided tours to try to see the lights," Phillips said. "IFC Films is distributing this worldwide. It's a big deal. I recently read a review that said it's probably the best found-footage film since the genre was created by The Blair Witch Project."The movie also interviews the two people most associated with studying the lights - scientist Dan Caton of Boone and paranormal researcher Joshua Warren of Asheville.

"Making this movie in Burke County and being able to debut the film there is a special moment for me," Beckerman said. "I believe people are going to really react to it. People will see this worldwide and it will draw attention to the Brown Mountain Lights. This will be great for tourism. The movie is fiction, but the lights are there; they're real. Anyone can go to see them."