One of the many great assets of the United States is our public lands. Our national and state parks systems belong to all of us and are there for our use and enjoyment. For many, this is the only escape from the concrete jungles in which they live and work. However, an even greater asset, are those individuals that are willing to give of themselves, by investing their time and assets into improving the lives of others. Recently, their has been a trend emerging of people utilizing their vacation time to give back to others through volunteer service. If you're one of those people looking for an opportunity to serve, this
Saturday, Sept. 26th is the 16th annual national
Public Lands Day - a day set aside each year to help care for our shared lands. We invite you to become involved many of the local parks are having work sessions and other activities. For a list, please visit the Public Lands Day website and view the lists for
Tennessee (Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area,
Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park, Dale Hollow Lake, Frozen Head State Park & Natural Area, and the Obed Wild & Scenic River. Other parks may have projects scheduled but not listed, so give your favorite a call.)
The second annual Sgt. York Day, set for Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (CST) at the home place and park in Pall Mall, TN, offers a wide variety of festivities for all ages, including tours of the original home place and ranger-led hikes along the nature trail, Wolf River, gravesite, Bible School and Wolf River Methodist Church. The event commemorates the 91st anniversary of Sgt. York's heroic actions in the ArgonneForest during World War I. The York General Store, where the official tour begins, will serve lunch and concessions, and the 2009 commemorative limited edition pewter ornament depicting the original York Agricultural Institute is available for purchase there. The Southeast Veteran's Museum will exhibit its WWI Living History Exhibition. Bruce York will be there with his York Genealogy Database. The children's activities area will include a turkey target shoot, kayaking with Byrdstown's Against the Flow, crafts, a bouncy house, children's carnival games and a Sgt. York Look-A-Like Contest. The Tennessee National Guard is providing a Climbing Wall. The winners from the Sgt. York Student Art Contest will be recognized and their art displayed in the historic York Grist Mill. Also being celebrated are the winners in the Senior Citizen's Essay Contest, in which citizens aged 65 and over, are writing an essay on the life of Sgt. Alvin C. York and how his ideals and character have impacted their life, views on Christianity, WWI, Education in Rural Areas or other pertinent topics. York family members will be on site to welcome guests and sign books, tapes and souvenirs. Food and craft vendors will offer their wares again this year. There will be plenty of live entertainment provided by many local gospel and bluegrass bands throughout the day. Plan to eat lunch at the Sgt. York's General Store and support the Sgt. York Patriotic Foundation, the nonprofit organization co-sponsoring the event along with the Alvin C. York State Historic Park. Back Road Runners and Speed Shop is partnering with York Day sponsors to present a cruise in, and all vintage car enthusiasts are encouraged to drive to Pall Mall for the day. For more information on vendor booths, contests, schedule, car show, directions and other questions, visit
www.sgtyork.org, call toll free 1-888-273.7275 or e-mail
sypf@sgtyork.org.
Keep in mind that the
Cumberland County Playhouse has an exciting line up of exceptional shows and concerts year round. Check their website for show schedules and concert information and to purchase your tickets (also - an excellent gift idea).
Bluegrass Underground and
Sunset Jammers offer great bluegrass music throughout the year, too.
The final regularly scheduled
car shows for 2009 will be occurring in the next few weeks. Byrdstown Kountry Kruisers meet
Oct. 3, Standing Stone Cruisers meet
Oct. 10, the club from Sparta, TN meets
Oct. 17, and the club in Somerset, KY (one of the largest) meets on
Oct. 24. Monticello, KY is every
Thursday night, plus there is a big event during the Roller Coaster Yard Sale (
www.rollercoasterfair.com) - the Cumberland River Cruise In at Alex Montgomery Chevrolet in Burkesville, KY (
Saturday, October 3rd).
Just a reminder: If you or anyone you know loves a yard sale or treasure hunt. The
Roller Coaster Yard Sale only 2 weeks away! The event takes place from
October 1-3 with over 150 miles of the oldest and most authentic marathon yard sale in the states of Tennessee and Kentucky. Next year a 25th Anniversary Celebration is being planned to coincide with the sale. Bring on the sales!!! If you have items to sell, this is a great opportunity to enjoy the usually pleasant weather of early autumn and make a little cash to help with holiday expenses or
fundraising events.
Civic organizations you are encouraged to make the most of this opportunity. Charitable donations have been down and the needs have been far greater than in recent memory. Rally your local members and community to welcome the numerous shoppers that will be making the most of their spending dollars during this event.
Shoppers, this is your opportunity to make your dollar go as far as possible. We expect vendors to be out in full force. It has been said that the Hwy. 127 Sale was bigger than ever this year largely due to folks trying to
make the most of their budgets through sales and purchases.
Bikers! Remember the
Sgt. Wesley Tucker Memorial Ride out of Celina, TN on October 10th. This ride offers a great route around Dale Hollow Lake, lots of food, fellowship and fun for all involved while sharing in the memory of our local hero - Sgt. Wesley Tucker. Proceeds from the ride go for scholarships for local students. This will be a great chance to see the glorious colors of fall 2009.
The Haunted Hollow Express at Big South Fork Scenic Railway in nearby Stearns, KY sets out on its first trip on
October 16th with other dates to follow. The Big South Fork Scenic Railway has rides scheduled April - December and have recently expanded their schedule to better accommodate our visitors looking to enjoy the great fall foliage (and a train ride). Visit their website for all the latest information -
www.bsfsry.com.
There are many other events coming up in the months ahead many are listed below - check out the listings on
www.Go2DHL.com,
www.Go2BSF.com,
www.Go2FCF.com on the events page for more information on these and other events, plus you can find more information on places to stay, eat and more at other links through these websites. Be sure to visit our sponsors at the end of this e-mail. They help make these updates possible.
Enjoy!
