This Year’s Fall Excursions Offer Day Trips to Charlottesville, Va. and Asheville, N.C.

The N.C. Transportation Museum Foundation and the Watauga Valley Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society offer a chance to see the beautiful fall foliage, experience a great destination and enjoy the romance of riding the rails this fall. The museum is again hosting fall train excursions. In addition to our traditional Charlottesville, Va. day trip, the museum will also offer a day trip to Asheville NC.

After hosting day trips through the 1990s, the museum revived rail excursions in 2007. The past two years have been sell-out crowds and satisfied passengers made those excursions a great success. . The “Virginia Autumn Special” will travel to Charlottesville, Va., Oct. 31, while the “Blue Ridge Special” will travel to Asheville, Nov. 1. Each day’s trip will include spectacular views of fall foliage.

Departing Spencer at 7 a.m., Saturday’s “Virginia Autumn Special” will again offer a second passenger pick-up at the Greensboro Amtrak Station at 8 a.m., allowing those living in the Triad a more convenient boarding opportunity. Passing through the North Carolina cities of Thomasville, High Point and Reidsville, and the Virginia cities of Danville, Lynchburg and Oak Ridge, passengers will experience beautiful views of the Piedmont and rolling hills of the Carolinas and the western part of Central Virginia. Spectacular views of the Dan, Roanoke and James Rivers will be seen as the train crosses above. The train will even pass by Schuyler, the mountain town fictionalized in the television show “The Waltons.”

At noon, the “Virginia Autumn Special” will arrive in Charlottesville, home of the University of Virginia. Here travelers will have nearly three hours to explore the historic downtown area. A short walk takes you to the downtown outdoor mall, considered one of the finest urban parks in the country. Unique shopping and dining opportunities can be found in boutiques, specialty wine, coffee and tea shops, and outdoor dining spots. Travelers may also enjoy relaxing walks under a lush, leafy tree canopy. Departing Charlottesville at 3 p.m., the train will arrive back in Greensboro at 6:45 p.m. and Spencer at 8 p.m.

During Sunday’s trip, the “Blue Ridge Special” will travel through the western Piedmont into the foothills and on to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Departing Spencer at 7 a.m., the train will roll through the cities of Statesville, Hickory, Morganton, Marion, Black Mountain and Swannanoa. The train will climb the famed "loops" of the Blue Ridge Mountains passing the famous Andrews Geyser and through several tunnels before arriving in Asheville at noon. Passengers will have nearly three hours for an outing at Biltmore Village.

Established in the late 1890s as a planned community near the entrance of the Biltmore estate, Biltmore Village stands near the entrance to Biltmore Estate. Shopping will be available in unique, locally-owned boutiques. Passengers can dine in restaurants and take walks along brick sidewalks that parallel tree lined streets. All of this will be enjoyed alongside spectacular views of the North Carolina mountains. Departing Asheville at 3 p.m., the “Blue Ridge Special” will return to Spencer at 8 p.m.

Several different levels of excursion tickets are available. Ticket prices are the same each day. Premium First Class tickets feature comfort seating on private rail cars restored to the height of luxury. Premium First Class passengers will also enjoy an early continental breakfast, newspaper and dinner in the diner on the return trip. Premium First Class tickets are $240 per person.

A new offering this year, Deluxe Coach Class tickets feature spacious seating with large windows, lunch on the dining car and light snacks during the trip. Deluxe Coach tickets are $170 per person.

Coach tickets feature comfortable seating, air conditioning and heat and restrooms. Coach tickets are $140 per person.

Another new feature, an optional box lunch will allow travelers to save time for shopping in Charlottesville or Asheville. The $14 box lunch, served in a souvenir lunch tote, includes include a half turkey wrap, pasta, chips & salsa, a cookie and drink.

Passengers may also take advantage of a shuttle bus at each destination for an additional $2.
Tickets are available online at www.nctrans.org or by calling 704-636-2889 ext. 232.
The N.C. Transportation Museum, located in historic Spencer Shops, the former Southern Railway repair facility, is part of the Division of State Historic Sites, Department of Cultural Resources. The museum is located just five minutes off I-85 at Exit 79 in Spencer, N.C., and about an hour from Charlotte, Greensboro or Winston-Salem. Visit www.nctrans.org for more information. The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources is celebrating the 2009 theme of “Treasure N.C. Culture.” For information on the Department of Cultural Resources, call (919) 807-7385 or visit www.ncculture.com.
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Modern Horror Films Come Alive at Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights

For the First Time Ever, Universal Orlando Dedicates its Entire Event to Mega-Horror Films

SAW, The Wolfman, Chucky and More Are “Ripped from the Silver Screen” at The Country’s Best Halloween Event

A cold, lifeless hand takes your ticket. You’re left with a bone-chilling shiver as you move toward an empty theater seat. The lights dim, voices fade, the film begins. The screen starts to rip apart as the action comes straight for you. The show’s about to begin…

For the first time ever, Universal Orlando is devoting its entire Halloween Horror Nights event to bringing horror films to life. All eight haunted houses, all six scare-zones and two live shows will be directly inspired by some of today’s most popular horror films.

In another first, guests will experience three powerful mega-horror film concepts live and in-person before seeing them on-screen: “SAW,” the legendary horror series from Lionsgate® and Twisted Pictures, due in theaters with its newest release of “SAW VI” this October; “The Wolfman” from Universal Pictures, in theaters February 2010; and “Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant,” also from Universal Pictures, due in theaters October 2009. There will be two additional houses inspired by cult horror films.

“Our guests are going to feel as if their favorite horror films have left the screen and surrounded them,” said Jim Timon, senior vice president of entertainment for Universal Orlando Resort. “They will come face to face with many of the most disturbing characters in film history. When they leave Halloween Horror Nights, they’ll wish their experience was just a movie.”

The terrifying world of “SAW” – one of the most profitable horror franchises to date – will be transformed into a haunted house featuring iconic scenes from the films such as Jigsaw’s lair and the tomb-like bathroom. Guests will come face to face with Jigsaw and also watch as his victims struggle to try and win at his game.

Before guests can see the “The Wolfman” on-screen, they will be able to live its horror. In this house they will walk through scenes from the film, joining “The Wolfman’s” alter-ego Lawrence Talbot as he discovers a primal side of himself he didn’t know existed.

A world where toys go bad is brought to life in a haunted house inspired by the “Chucky” films. Guests will experience a funhouse lead by the sadistic doll where favorite children’s toys aren’t what they seem.

This year’s Halloween Horror Nights will also include dramatic new interpretations of Universal Pictures’ famed Frankenstein and Dracula. Both will be featured in their own houses and both will be more horrifying and intense than ever before.

In the Silver Screams haunted house – based on a demented movie theater run by a supernatural usher – guests will experience “Shaun of the Dead,” Universal Pictures’ “The Phantom of the Opera,” Lionsgate®’s “My Bloody Valentine 3D” and more.

Two live shows inspired by popular films return this year – the entertaining “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show: A Tribute.”

Halloween Horror Nights runs September 25-26, October 1-4, 8-11, 15-18, 21-25 and 28-31.

Daily updates and exclusive details on Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights are available on the event’s official Facebook fan page: www.facebook.com/halloweenhorrornightsorlando or search on Facebook for “Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights – Orlando OFFICIAL.”

Advance tickets are now on sale for $69.99 plus tax. Tickets can be purchased at www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com or by calling 1-888-467-7677 (HORROR-7). Due to the event’s popularity, tickets for weekend nights are expected to sell out and should be purchased well in advance.

For special deals and vacation offers, visit www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com.
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Experience Mardi Gras like a New Orleans Native

Dauphine Orleans Hotel Parade Package Includes Rare Opportunity to Ride in Krewe of Orpheus

The Dauphine Orleans Hotel is a prime place to stay for French Quarter fun and excitement, and the 2010 Mardi Gras festival (February 12-17, 2010) is going to be one of the most exciting events all year. Ideally situated one block from Bourbon Street and four blocks from Canal Street’s parade route, guests of the hotel will enjoy convenient access to all New Orleans Mardi Gras festivities.

The hotel is offering a special six-day Krewe of Orpheus Parade Package that includes a unique opportunity to ride in one of the most famous and prestigious parades of Carnival season.

The Dauphine Orleans Hotel’s Krewe of Orpheus Parade Package, for arrival on February 12, 2010, includes:*

-Five (5) nights accommodation in a Premium Courtyard guestroom
-Two tickets to ride in Harry Connick, Jr.’s Krewe of Orpheus Parade (Monday, February 15, 2010)
-Parade Day lunch for two
-Complimentary throws and Krewe costume, to ride in and to keep
-Complimentary refreshments during the parade ride
-Two tickets to the Orpheuscapade after-party at the New Orleans Convention Center
-Complimentary valet parking during your stay
-Complimentary daily deluxe continental breakfast
-Complimentary welcome beverage in the historic May Baily’s Lounge

*Availability is limited. The 6 day/5 night package is $5,492.65 double occupancy, $3,530.65 single occupancy, all taxes included. Package must be fully pre-paid and is non-cancelable. Rules and liability waiver are required to ride in the parade.

To check availability or reserve the Krewe of Orpheus Parade Package at the Dauphine Orleans Hotel, please use promotion code MGP and visit www.dauphineorleans.com or call (800) 521-7111. The 6-day/5-night package may be reserved for arrival on February 12, 2010.

About the Dauphine Orleans Hotel
The Dauphine Orleans Hotel is located in the heart of the historic French Quarter at 415 Rue Dauphine, just steps from the bustle of Bourbon Street and antique shops on Royal Street. A multi-million dollar renovation of the 111-room hotel in June 2008 has created a new era of elegance in this 18th century landmark. Perfect for both business and leisure travelers, the Dauphine Orleans offers modern amenities such as wireless Internet, Tempur-Pedic™ bedding, fitness and exercise room, and a saltwater pool. For more information or to make a reservation, please call (800) 521-7111 or (504) 586-1800, or visit www.dauphineorleans.com.
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Take a short day trip to Montaluce Winery, Dahlonega, Georgia

August Events At Montaluce

Complimentary Guided Winery Tours
Join us every Tues- Fri at 2:00pm and Sat. and Sun. at 12:00, 2:00 and 4:00pm
Le Vigne Restaurant is now open Thursday through Sunday evenings for Dinner and every day except Monday for lunch!

New Wine Tasting Hours
Come and Taste Montaluce’s wines as well as wines from around the world. The wine tasting room at Montaluce is now open Monday through Wednesday: 11am to 5pm; Thursday through Saturday 11am to 6pm; and Sundays from 12pm to 6pm.

Saturdays in August, WINE U at 4:00 PM ~ Mediterranean Panorama
The wines of the Mediterranean countries are diverse and make for perfect summertime enjoyment. Join one of our staff sommeliers for a guided and informative exploration of wines from Spain, Italy, France, & Greece. The cost is $25 pp. Rsvp required.

Sundays in August, 5:00 to 9 PM ~ SUNDAY SUPPER
Join us for Sunday Supper in Le Vigne overlooking the vineyards. Three courses, $26 per person.

Wine into Water Fun!
Join Montaluce’s Winery manager, Oliver Asberger, for a day of food, wine, and river rafting on the Chestatee River. We’ll begin at 1:30 at the winery with a winery tour and wine tasting then head out for a day on the Chestatee River with

Huck Finn River Tours.
To finish off this amazing day, we’ll return to Montaluce to enjoy Sunday Supper and more wine! Limited to 10 so RSVP soon. $125 per person. Trips are planned August 9th and August 30th.

Banfi Wine Dinner
Join us August 1st for a multi-coursed wine dinner at Montaluce. Executive Chef Steven Hartman and the winery team will be preparing a perfectly paired Banfi Winery wine and culinary experience you won’t want to miss.
$85 per person. Please RSVP to 706-867-4060

Upcoming Dates for Dinner and a Movie
Join us August 21st and 28th for Dinner and a Movie at Montaluce! Enjoy dinner at Le Vigne and stay after to enjoy the great classic.
A perfect date night! There is no charge for the movie on the covered veranda.
Refreshments are available during the movie! The Movie will begin at approximately 9pm.

Labor Day Celebration and Red Wine Release
Join us September 5th and 6th as we celebrate Labor Day and the release of our Inaugural Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Live music, hay rides, excellent food and wine, and more will make this an event to remember!

For more information, call 706-867-4060 or www.montaluce.com
Open 7 days a week!
Mon-Wed- 11am to 5pm
Thurs -Sat. 11am to 6pm
Sun. 12 pm to 6pm

Montaluce Winery & Estates
501 Hightower Church Road
Dahlonega, GA 30533

Scenic Route Through Dahlonega

Take Route 400 N toward Dahlonega.
Turn left on Route 19/60 N and travel for 5.5 miles.
Go 1/4 around Dahlonega town square and bear right onto E. Main/52 Business.
Turn left on Route 19/60 Business/Grove St. (first stop light).
Travel for 1.3 miles, then turn left on Oak Grove Rd.
Travel for 3.8 miles to stop sign.
Turn right on Hightower Church Rd.
Montaluce is .5 miles on left.

Direct Route from Atlanta

Take Route 400 N toward Dahlonega. for 48 miles
Turn left on 19/60 Toward Dahlonega for 5.6 miles
Turn left onto HWY 52/9
Toward Ellijay/Amicalola Falls for 3.8 miles.
Turnright at Siloam Church Rd for 2.8 miles
Go straight at four way stop.
Montaluce is 1/4 mile on left. From Atlanta (Direct Route)
Travel 400 north to end of 4 lanes
Turn left onto Ga 19/60 toward Dahlonega
Turn left at redlight onto GA 52/9 toward Ellijay.
Travel 3.8 miles and turn right onto Siloam Church Road.
Travel on Siloam Church Road to stop sign.
Continue straight (Road name changes to Hightower Church Road)
Montalvina .5 miles on left-->

From Blairsville/Murphy
Follow 19/129 S toward Vogel State Park
Continue from Vogel State Park for 10.3 miles
Turn right on 19/9 S (Turner's Corner) for 5.1 miles
Turn left on Route 19/9/60 for 4.6 miles
Turn right on Historic Route 19/60 for 2.4 miles
Turn right on Oak Grove Rd for 3.8 miles
Turn right on Hightower Church Rd for .5 miles
See Montaluce sign on left
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Fun Stuff in Florida

Celebrate Labor Day With a Road Trip to the Coast

Nothing says summer more than a road trip! And there's no better way to send summer packing than with a road trip to the coast for Labor Day. If you travel the Big Bend Scenic Byway on your journey, getting here is going to be half the fun!

There are two sections of the Big Bend Scenic Byway that wind through Franklin County - the Coastal Trail (U.S. Highway 98 along the coast) and the Forest Trail (State Road 65). Along each of these scenic highways, you will encounter dozens of parks, wildlife areas, museums and recreational opportunities. Click here to learn more about Franklin County's parks, museums and wildlife areas along the scenic byway.

Click Here to Learn About Labor Day and Late Summer Hotel and Vacation Rental Accommodation Specials

Lighthouse Day Shines Light on Two Historic Landmarks

Franklin County's two historic lighthouses will shine just a bit brighter this month as America pays tribute to these beacons of light during National Lighthouse Day August 7.

National Lighthouse day is celebrated across the US to commemorate a beacon of light that symbolizes safety and security for boats at sea.

Franklin County boasts two restored lighthouses. The first is located on St. George Island. The second, the Crooked River Lighthouse, is located at Carrabelle Beach. Each tells a tale of coastal living in Franklin County more than 100 years ago and each is a site worth visiting.

St. George Island. Today, the lighthouse of St. George Island is a welcome landmark to arriving visitors. In the 1800s, it stood in a different location near the east end of Cape St. George. To learn more about the St. George Island Lighthouse and Museum, visit www.seestgeorgeisland.com

Carrabelle Beach. The Crooked River Lighthouse overlooks St. George Sound where it has stood for more than 100 years. The Crooked River Lighthouse was constructed in 1895 to replace the lighthouse on Dog Island that was destroyed by hurricane in 1873. To learn more about the Crooked River Lighthouse, please visit www.crookedriverlighthouse.org

Franklin County Hosts Nationally Acclaimed Environmental Film Festival

Franklin County will host the nationally acclaimed Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival On Tour August 29 - September 5 in Carrabelle, Apalachicola, St. George Island, St. Teresa and neighboring Wewahitchka. Organized by the Apalachicola Riverkeeper Group, the week-long film festival will feature award-winning films and a children's program designed to raise awareness about environmental issues nationwide.

The films will be shown in the historic Dixie Theatre in Apalachicola, the Carrabelle City Auditorium, FSU's Coastal and Marine Laboratory in St. Teresa, the Volunteer Fire Department on St. George Island and the Tupelo Theater in Wewahitchka. more

Fall Fishing Getting Close

This fall features an Inshore Saltwater Fishing Tournament, Carrabelle's Annual Kingfish Shootout and the first Kayak Fishing Tournament on St. George Island. For more information on each tournament, visit the Apalachicola Bay Chamber, Carrabelle Chamber and the St. George Island Visitor Center. For area fishing information, visit www.anaturalescape.com

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New Ultimate Family Getaway Package at Callaway Gardens: Free Food, Free Recreation and Free Attraction Admission

Now through September Callaway Gardens offers Guests Affordable Getaway

The Ultimate Family Getaway package at Callaway Gardens® provides families the ideal getaway with food for an unbelievably affordable price. For only $149/night*, this special vacation package includes accommodations and a host of complimentary activities the whole family can enjoy. The Callaway Gardens Ultimate Family Getaway Package will be available now through September 30, 2009.

At Callaway Gardens, families can enjoy an active getaway filled with unique and multi-generational recreational activities and the chance to create lifelong memories. Guests can enjoy lounging by the pool or a day of fishing on Mountain Creek Lake. Callaway Gardens also offers guests a host of entertainment options unique to the destination such as acres of breathtaking Gardens, the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center – a four and one-half acre conservatory filled with more than 1,000 tropical butterflies – and a daily free-flight raptor show. And, with Ultimate Family Getaway Package families can enjoy their time at Callaway Gardens at an affordable price that includes meals.

The Ultimate Family Getaway Package includes:
· Breakfast and dinner for two adults and two children at the Plant Room Restaurant
· Free round of golf on the Lake View Golf Course per night of stay
· Free admission to the Gardens’ many attractions including the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, the free-flight Birds of Prey show and John A. Sibley Horticultural Center
· Two hours of free bicycle rental
· Two hours of free jon boat rental
· One free hour of tennis court time
· Free and unlimited access to Callaway Fitness Center at the Mountain Creek Inn
· Choice of accommodations in the Mountain Creek Inn, one- or two-bedroom Cottages or one-, two-, three- or four-bedroom Villas. Prices start at $149*/night at the Mountain Creek Inn. Rooms are based on double occupancy

“Guests are loving the Summer Stimulus Package that offers free golf, tennis, bikes and boats for only $99 per night. But we wanted to better the offer and include food,” said Edward Callaway, chairman and chief executive officer of the Ida Cason Callaway Foundation™. “We know families are looking for a place with wholesome activities and entertainment that they can enjoy together. Callaway Gardens was created to be a place where all can relax and reconnect with each other in nature. We hope this great value package helps families do just that.”

Guests can take advantage of the Callaway Gardens Ultimate Family Getaway Package from now through September 30, 2009. For additional information about the Ultimate Family Getaway Package, please go to http://www.callawaygardens.com or call 1.800.CALLAWAY (225.5292) to make your family’s getaway reservation!

* Some restrictions apply, cottage and villa rates are available, taxes and gratuities are not included. Proper attired required for golf and tennis.
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Inexpensive Summer Travel the Whole Family Can Enjoy

Mayfield’s Athens Visitor Center Named One of AARP’s Favorite Places

Mayfield Dairy Farms is pleased to announce that its Athens Visitor Center has been named one of AARP The Magazine’s favorite places in Tennessee.

In 2008, AARP of Tennessee polled its 300 state volunteers on their 50 favorite day-trips in the state and the Mayfield Visitor Center made the list.

Visitors from across the United States flock to Mayfield Dairy Farms year-round to take a free tour and learn about Mayfield’s history and products.

Kids and adults alike enjoy seeing how their favorite Mayfield products are made with a fun and educational behind-the-scenes tour at both Mayfield Visitor Centers located in Braselton, Georgia and Athens, Tennessee.

Visitors to Athens can find out how it all began for Mayfield and get to see how Mayfield’s delicious milk makes it from the dairy to the fridge. Better yet, they’ll even get the inside scoop on how delicious Mayfield Ice Creamier is made.

A trip to Braselton gives visitors a first-hand glimpse of Mayfield’s state-of-the-art milk production systems and they can see how Mayfield’s delicious milk is bottled.

At both locations, browse the gift shop for great Mayfield-branded keepsakes. And, of course, be sure to try a scoop of delicious Mayfield Ice Cream at their old-fashioned Ice Cream Parlors.

In Athens, tours run Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday every 30 minutes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except at noon). Tours are every hour on the hour on Wednesday. The last tour of the day begins at 4 p.m. Saturday tours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every hour, with the last tour beginning at 1 p.m.*

Braselton tours run Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday about every 30 minutes and are conducted from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The last tour begins at 4 p.m. during the week. Saturday tours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every hour, with the last tour beginning at 1 p.m.*

Tours at both locations are free and parking is available in the visitor center area. Group tours are available and can be pre-arranged.

*Tour times are subject to change

Directions to Athens, Tennessee
From Interstate 75: Take Exit #52 (Mt. Verd, Athens). Turn east towards Athens. Drive 4.3 miles and turn left on Mayfield Lane. The Visitor Center is on the right.

Directions to Braselton, Georgia
From Interstate 75: Take I-285 East to I-85 North. Turn right at Exit 126. Proceed to traffic light and turn left on Broadway Avenue. The Visitor Center is approximately two miles on the left.

About Mayfield Dairy Farms
Founded in 1910, Mayfield Dairy Farms offers a full line of milk, cultured and ice cream products. Based in Athens, TN, the dairy serves nine Southeastern states. Tours of the dairy’s plants in Athens, TN and Braselton, GA offer an inside look into the history, production and great flavor of Mayfield products. To learn more about Mayfield Dairy Farms, visit www.mayfielddairy.com
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Combine History and Faith (Apalachicola)

Historic Home & Garden Tour an Annual Spring Rite

Apalachicola's 17th annual Historic Home & Garden Tour May 1-2, will feature more than a dozen distinctive historic homes, gardens, inns, churches and businesses. The tour is an annual event for Trinity Episcopal Church, one of the state's oldest churches. The tour is expected to attract more than 1,000 visitors.

This year's event will begin Friday evening, May 1, at Trinity Episcopal Church, with an Evensong Service at 5:30 p.m. The service is followed at 6:30 p.m. by a free lecture by Mark Tarmey, a preservation architect, who will present a talk entitled "The Economic Benefits of Historic Preservation". Tarmey is President of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation.

Registration for the tour begins at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 2, 2009 at Trinity Church. Admission the day of the tour is $20; advance tickets are $15. Tickets may be purchased before May 2 by calling Trinity Church (850) 653-9550, or the Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce (850) 653-9419. A gourmet lunch will be available for $10. On the day of the tour ticket holders will receive a brochure which contains brief histories of the homes and a map.

The featured home for this year's tour will be the former home of world-renowned botanist Dr. Alvin Wentworth Chapman, author of Flora of the Southern United States. 2009 commemorates the 200th anniversary of his birth. The Chapman home was recently purchased by Dr. Helen Tudor of New York City. Renovation of the property is underway with plans to devote the first floor to a museum.

In addition to the Chapman house, more than a dozen historic homes and other buildings will be included on the tour. Apalachicola boasts more than 200 residences built in the nineteenth century and more than 100 erected from 1900-1910. In the three decades preceding the Civil War, Apalachicola ranked as the third busiest cotton port on the Gulf Coast behind only Mobile and New Orleans. The prosperity represented by many of the homes on tour is a direct result of this cotton trade.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation named Apalachicola one of America's "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" in 2008. The Tour is funded, in part, through the Franklin County Tourist Development Council. For more information on additional historic landmarks and visitor sites throughout Franklin County, please visit www.anaturalescape.com.
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Plein Air Painters to Capture Forgotten Coast on Canvas (Florida)

More than 20 nationally acclaimed artists will gather on Florida's Forgotten Coast in early May to participate in the 4th annual Great Plein Air Paint Out, May 7-17, 2009. Painters will set up their easels and pull out their brushes to document the landscape and culture of this last vestige of authentic "Old Florida" - a sparsely developed stretch between Mexico Beach and Alligator Point.

The public is invited to visit the exhibits and attend many of the special public events that will occur throughout the 10 day Paint-out.

Exhibits

There will be four exhibits that operate throughout the event.

The Wetroom Exhibit will consist of art, fresh off of the easel, which arrives daily at the Historic Cotton Warehouse on the waterfront in downtown Apalachicola. The "wet room" will be open from 11am-5pm for the viewing and purchase of these masterfully produced paintings. Visit each day to experience the excitement as the event unfolds.

Available Works Exhibit (Opening May 10) will feature paintings created during previous Plein Air paint-outs. Art viewing and sales will be open daily from 12-5 pm in the WindMark Village Center. These works have grown increasingly popular and stimulate discussion of how the area has changed since the event first began.

St. Joe Collection (Opening May 10) Presented at SummerCamp exhibiting over 40 plein air paintings purchased from the last three years of Forgotten Coast events. View the Collection daily between 12-5pm.

Plein Air Classic Exhibit. Private collectors from the region have generously loaned their favorite paintings to present the Plein Air Classics Exhibit. The Gulf County Tourist Development Council will host the exhibit daily, May 11-15, from 9 am to 5 pm at the Gulf County Welcome Center, overlooking the bay in Port St. Joe.

Public Events

Quickdraw. Artists, amateurs and professionals, are invited to celebrate the Plein Air tradition by gathering on Reid Avenue in downtown Port St. Joe to participate in the Forgotten Coast Quickdraw on May 9. The excitement begins with artists taking two hours, beginning at 10 am, to paint the beauty of Port St. Joe. At noon the sidewalk will be lined with easels displaying the fruits of the morning's work. Awards will be presented and art will be sold off the easels. There will also be music, shopping, and a creative art project for kids. The Quickdraw is presented by the Port St. Joe Redevelopment Agency, the Gulf County Chamber of Commerce, and the Forgotten Coast Cultural Coalition. Applications and contest rules are available at www.pleinairfl.com or at the Port St. Joe Redevelopment Agency. For more information, contact Lorinda Gingell at 850/229-6899.

Student Art Day. Highly sought after for their instructional skills, the participating Plein Air artists will devote Tuesday morning, May 12, to Student Art Day. Students from local schools will receive one-on-one mentoring to create a plein air work. This event will take place 10 am-12 noon in Maddox Park in Port St. Joe and will be followed by a community luncheon at the Gulf County Welcome Center, hosted by the Port St. Joe Lions Club and the Junior Service League. The students' completed paintings will be displayed in the Wetroom Exhibit through the duration of the event

Free Artist Demonstrations. Art enthusiasts are encouraged to attend a series of free artist demonstrations and receptions throughout the 10 days. Three historic lighthouses will be featured during the series to include Cape San Blas on Sunday, May 10, Carrabelle's Crooked River on Monday, May 11, and the St George Island Light on Thursday, May 14. Artists will be in Mexico Beach on Wednesday, May 13, in Port St. Joe on May 8, at the Salt Air Farmer's Market in Port St. Joe on Saturday, May 16, at the WindMark Village Center on May 16, and on Apalachicola's working waterfront on May 8, 9, 16 and 17. For a complete schedule and details visit www.pleinairfl.com

Art as a Window. This panel discussion will explore the way history, local culture, and the artist interact, will feature noted art historian Mallory O'Connor, Voices of the Apalachicola author Faith Eidse, and plein air artist Mitch Kolbe. The program will be held in the loft of the Historic Cotton Warehouse above the Wetroom on Friday, May 15, from 2-4 pm. Funded by the Florida Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, the program is free and open to the public.

Patron's Party. Artists will be asked to reserve their very best work to present at the Patrons' Party on Saturday evening, May 16, from 6:30-10:30 pm. This special event, held in the Wetroom in Apalachicola, will include delicious food, live music, and the opportunity to purchase the best art from the paint-out. Tickets are $75 per couple or $40 each.

Art in the Afternoon. The final segment, Art In The Afternoon, is a free, family-oriented celebration of the Plein Air event. Children will enjoy fine arts projects, area music students will perform, and artists will paint on-site from 11am-4pm on Sunday, May 17. The Wetroom will extend into the street and overlook Riverfront Park in Apalachicola. This will be the last chance to purchase plein air art, mingle with the artists, and ask them to personalize a message on purchased paintings.

Dual Opening Receptions will kick-off the event on Friday, May 8, from 6-8 pm at the WindMark Village Center in the East and at SummerCamp in the West. The "meet-and-greets" with plein air artists, patrons and event organizers are free and open to the public. The WindMark reception will provide a preview of available works from previous paint-outs and the SummerCamp affair will present the St. Joe Collection.

The artists will frame the initial two days of paintings to be hung for the Wetroom Reveal, Saturday evening, May 9, from 6-8 pm in the Historic Cotton Warehouse in Apalachicola. This opening of the "wetroom" will be the first opportunity to purchase the 2009 paintings. Tickets are $15 and include hors d'oeuvres, wine, and music.

The "great paint-out" is a 10-day event coordinated by the Forgotten Coast Cultural Coalition, a non-profit organization established to produce regional multi-community cultural events that improve the quality of life for the coastal area. The communities of Mexico Beach, WindMark Beach, Port St. Joe, Cape San Blas, Indian Pass, Apalachicola, Eastpoint, St. George Island, Carrabelle, SummerCamp and Alligator Point have joined forces to produce the most impressive art event seen along the coast. Funding from both the Gulf and Franklin County Tourist Development Councils has been used to promote the event to a national market aiming to attract art enthusiasts and collectors. "The crème de la crème of artists will be painting along the Forgotten Coast and our local residents and visitors will get the first chance to purchase these paintings that capture and preserve what we all love about this area", said Founder Richard Carrell.

Artists participating in this year's event include Frank Bruckmann, New Haven, CT; Luke Buck, Niveah, IN; Gene Costanza, Eugene, OR; Katie Cundiff, Sarasota, FL; Charles Dickinson, St. Augustine, FL; Cynthia Edmonds, Winter Park, FL; Mary Erickson, Marshville, NC; Sally Evans, Winter Park, FL; Harold Frontz, Lexington, NC; Tracey Frugoli, Morton, IL; Richard Gallego, Palmdale, CA; James Hempel, Milwaukee, WI; Allison Hill, Mohegan Island, ME; Mitch Kolbe, Palm Harbor, FL; Morgan Samuel Price, Altamonte Springs, FL; Lori Putnam, Nashville, TN; James Richards, Athens, GA; Tom Sadler, Orlando, FL; Diane Scott, Hingham, MA; Robert Simone, St. Petersburg, FL; and Theodore Tihansky, Monhegan Island, ME.

Plein Air (pronounced pleyn air) comes from the French term "en plein air," meaning "in the open air." It is a style of creating art in the moment outside, primarily (but not necessarily) from nature. Although this type of art is often thought of as landscape painting, many other subjects can be depicted, including still life, figures, portraits and architecture. A true plein air painting is done on location, capturing the atmosphere and establishing a sense of place. Many artists agree this is the true test of skill, as it requires complete confidence in placement of color and brushwork in a short amount of time. The work is valued for its sense of spontaneity and for the skill artists develop at quickly and deftly capturing the essence of light or shadow on a subject. Plein air art is not created in a deliberate or planned manner, it is fresh and uncontrived, created from life as it happens.

The public is invited, encouraged even, to locate, stop and watch the painters throughout the week. To view the entire schedule of events, enter the Quickdraw contest, or purchase tickets, visit the website, www.pleinairfl.com or call 1/800/378-8419. The 2009 Plein Air Paint Out is funded, in part, through the Franklin County Tourist Development Council. To learn more about arts and art related events in Franklin County, please visit www.anaturalescape.com
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St. George Island and Franklin County FL

St. George Island Chili Cookoff Heats Up For Spring Visitors

The 27th annual St. George Island Charity Chili Cookoff fires up the burners on March 7 to herald in what some consider the official beginning of Spring on St. George Island. If you love chili, and who doesn't? you can eat your fill on Saturday as the competition takes place. www.seestgeorgeisland.com.

Click here for a complete list of accommodations on the island and beyond for Chili Cookoff weekend.

Local Military Exhibits Rank High For Veteran Visitors
Franklin County honors veterans this Spring with two special exhibits.

Carrabelle Honors WWII Veterans

Carrabelle pays tribute to America's veterans this month when the Camp Gordon Johnston Association hosts its annual Camp Gordon Johnston Days March 13-15. The event is a reunion of military veterans who trained for WWII at Camp Gordon Johnston, a training base so large it included St. James Island (excluding Carrabelle), Dog Island, and St. George Island. Click here to see a video of the event-filled weekend. Events include a Friday social mixer, a parade and an evening dinner dance, military exhibits, re-enactments and tours of the former Camp Gordon Johnston Base camp. more

Wall That Heals Coming To Apalachicola

From April 30 - May 3, Apalachicola will host the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) Traveling "Wall That Heals" Memorial and Museum. The exhibit features a half-scale replica of the Memorial and a museum that travels to communities throughout America.

The Wall That Heals exhibit is sponsored by the Three Servicemen Statue South (TSS) group and is coming to Apalachicola largely because of another important Veteran's memorial located there. Apalachicola is the only City in the Country to house a replica of the Three Servicemen Statue detail, commemorating the service of Veterans during the Vietnam era. more

Get Out of the House and Into The Wild This Spring

The St. Vincent Island National Wildlife Refuge will host an Open House on Saturday March 21 with wildlife exhibits, nature walks, history presentations, bird tours and even a kids' mini-bushcamp. This year's event, sponsored by the Supporters of St. Vincent NWR, Inc. is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on St. Vincent Island which is located just offshore at the western-most boundary of the Franklin-Gulf County line.

The highlight of this popular annual event is the island nature tour which is guided by local nature enthusiasts and which is limited to the first 75 people to sign-up. Visitors can sign up for the tours once they arrive on the island. This year's event will also feature a new Kids mini bushcraft activity designed for childen ages 8-12. The Bushcraft will feature activities designed to teach kids basic wilderness safety and simple survival skills. more

March Events

March 5, 2009 Dixie Theatre - Florida's "Florida's Delicious History: A Gastronomic Journey Through Modern Florida". Food scholar Andrew Huse offers a look back through modern Florida's cuisine. www.dixietheatre.com 850-653-3200

March 7 - St. George Island Chili Cookoff
More than 60 contestants compete in the largest regional chili cookoff in the nation. Contestants vie for a spot in the National Chili Cookoff. All proceeds benefit the St. George Island Volunteer Fire Department. 8am 5K run Auction 11am-3pm. www.stgeorgeislandchili.com, and www.seestgeorgeisland.com

March 13-15 - Camp Gordon Johnston Days A fun-for-the-whole-family parade pays tribute to the brave men and women who trained at Camp Gordon Johnston just east of Carrabelle. All sorts of family activities all weekend long. The Camp Gordon Johnston Museum contains many authentic relics from WWII and displays the area's rich history. www.campgordonjohnston.com

Click here for expanded list of events and activities.

Looking Ahead

April 4- Cape St. George Light Dedication, St. George Island. 10 a.m. dedication ceremony followed by free climbing at the lighthouse and celebration in the afternoon. Lighthouses are big in Florida - April 25 is the state's official Florida Lighthouse Day. www.seestgeorgeisland.com.

April 4 - Art Walk & Wine Festival, Downtown Apalachicola www.apalachicolabay.org
April 25-26 11th Historic Apalachicola Antique & Classic Boat Show Downtown Apalachicola. Antique boats and antique cars. www.apalachicolabay.org
April 25 - Carrabelle Riverfront Festival. Annual celebration along the riverfront with food, music and exhibits. www.carrabellechamber.org
April 30 - May 3 - VVMF Traveling Wall That Heals Exhibit and Museum, Veterans Park, Apalachicola. Half-scale replica of the Memorial, museum and information center. www.vvmf.org www.apalachicolabay.org.
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Air Force Works Aggressively to Reduce Bird Strikes

As an ongoing investigation continues on a bird strike that caused a passenger jet's engines to fail last week after takeoff from New York's LaGuardia Airport, Air Force safety officials said they're well-versed on the dangers of bird strikes and aggressively are working to prevent them.

National Transportation Safety Board officials confirmed initial indications that U.S. Airways flight 1549 struck a flock of birds, which were sucked into the engines and caused them to fail. The pilot, former Air Force pilot Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III, successfully landed the plane in New York's Hudson River and is credited with saving all 155 people on board.

The incident brought public focus to a problem the Air Force, along with the airline industry, has long struggled to overcome.

Last year alone, the Air Force experienced more than 4,000 bird strikes, Eugene LeBoeuf, chief of the Air Force's Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard, or BASH, program at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., told American Forces Press Service.

Fortunately, none of those bird strikes was classified as a "Class A" accident, one that results in a death or more than $1 million in damages, LeBoeuf said. But collectively, they cost the Air Force an estimated $35 million.

Bird strikes are on the rise, he said, and present a serious safety issue. The crash of an E-3B Airborne Warning and Control System plane in 1995 after takeoff from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, painfully drove that point home. All 24 crew members died when the plane struck a flock of Canada geese just after takeoff.

"When you have a bird strike, it's like throwing a rock into the engine," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Paul White, airfield operations supervisor at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. "It stops the turbine from spinning, and that can be catastrophic."

The BASH program works to avert accidents like the one at Elmendorf and last week's incident in New York. Based on a system of "integrated pest management," it aims to keep air bases, airfields and the air space and ground in and around them free of birds and wildlife that can hamper aircraft operations, LeBoeuf explained.

That's a challenge, he said, with more Canada geese taking up permanent residence in the United States, a burgeoning snow goose population and a comeback for the pelican population after DDT and other insecticides were banned.

But birds aren't the only problem, LeBoeuf said. He's seen it all: deer, coyotes, wild pigs and even alligators finding their way onto Air Force flightlines. "They're mobile speed bumps, and aircraft don't take kindly to them," he said.

Step one in the BASH program is "habitat alteration," which LeBoeuf defined as making airfields as uninviting as possible. Anything that might serve as a perch is removed, denying birds an elevated place to roost. Potential perches that can't be removed get spikes driven into them.

Meanwhile, low spots in the land where birds can hide or seek water that collects are filled in.

Dan Vredenburgh, a contractor who oversees Andrews Air Force Base's BASH program, follows the Air Force protocol of ensuring grass around the airfield is maintained between 7 and 14 inches. That's too short for ground birds to nest in, but too long for them to feel safe feeding in, he explained.

"These are the benign approaches, but if they don't work, we turn to more active techniques," LeBoeuf said. In a word, he defined that as "harassment."

Vredenburgh, for example, has a whole list of tricks to make Andrews unwelcoming to seagulls, blackbirds, starlings, turkey vultures, cowbirds, ducks and geese that frequent the region.

He fires off pyrotechnics and propane cannons as needed to scare birds from the 4,320-acre base. One of his most effective tools is Bree, a two-tone border collie that chases away birds or other wildlife that might be tempted to take up residence. Vrendenburg and Bree patrol the base regularly, and he sets her loose when he discovers birds roosting.

"When she takes off, they leave in a hurry," Vrendenburgh said. "After a couple of times, they probably won't come back."

Other bases use different techniques. The Royal Air Force base at Mildenhall in England, for example, relies on a Moroccan lanner hawk named Goldie to ward off unwanted birds. At Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan, a luger falcon named Mustang helps to keep unwanted birds at bay.

But no preventive measure will keep birds and other wildlife away indefinitely, LeBoeuf said. So as a last resort, BASH officials get the permits required to shoot, trap or otherwise remove them from the area.

At Andrews -- home of the 316th Wing as well as the 89th Airlift Wing that flies Air Force One and other aircraft in support of the president, vice president and senior U.S. leaders -- these measures are helping to reduce bird strikes.

Andrews reported 20 bird strikes last year, down from 30 in fiscal 2007 and an average of about 34 a year in past years, Vredenburgh said. Nearly all involved small birds, and none inflicted major aircraft damage or forced an emergency landing.

"We understand the importance of what we do, and believe we're helping reduce the problem through our efforts," he said.

"There's no question that the BASH program is making a difference," LeBoeuf said. "It saves lives and aircraft and allows us to maintain our mission. It's a very important program."
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
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National Mediation Board Upholds Delta Flight Attendants’ Decision To Reject Union Representation

Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) has been notified by the National Mediation Board (NMB) that its flight attendants’ decision to reject union representation will be upheld. The Board dismissed the Association of Flight Attendants’ allegations of interference in the May 2008 representation election at Delta, stating that the union’s claims either “are unsubstantiated…”, ”do not rise to the level of interference under clear, longstanding Board precedent”, or ”constitute isolated incidents…that do not amount to the kind of systematic, pervasive conduct that would have tainted laboratory conditions.”

Delta Senior Vice President of In-Flight Service Joanne Smith issued the following statement today in response to the NMB’s decision:

“Delta has always believed that the AFA’s allegations of interference were unfounded. Armed with the facts and the understanding that this decision had a significant impact on their careers, our flight attendants spoke decisively about their preference for maintaining Delta’s unique culture. We are pleased that the NMB has upheld our flight attendants’ decision. It’s time now to turn our attention to the exciting opportunity ahead of us – creating a premier global airline that will allow our people to share in the airline’s success and provide a legendary travel experience for our customers.”

Delta Air Lines operates service to more worldwide destinations than any airline with Delta and Delta Connection flights to 287 destinations in 58 countries. Delta has added more international capacity than any major U.S. airline during the last two years and is the leader across the Atlantic with flights to 42 trans-Atlantic markets. To Latin America and the Caribbean, Delta offers 315 weekly flights to 43 destinations. Delta's marketing alliances also allow customers to earn and redeem SkyMiles on more than 16,000 flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. Including its SkyTeam and worldwide codeshare partners, Delta offers flights to 500 worldwide destinations in 105 countries. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and flight status at delta.com.
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PEANUTS™ the Great Pumpkin Patch Express, Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

PEANUTS™ The Great Pumpkin Patch Express returns to the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad for 2008. As the leaves are changing in October and pumpkins are ready to be carved, Charlie Brown, Lucy, and Snoopy make a visit to the GSMR Pumpkin Patch beginning October 10, 2008. The excursions, which are themed after Charles M. Schulz’s classic story “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” will be departing from the Bryson City Depot October 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25 & 26. Friday departure time will be at 3:00pm. On Saturdays and Sundays departure will be at 1:00pm and 5:00pm.

Guests will hear a narration of Schulz’s “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” as the train travels to the Pumpkin Patch. Upon arrival, passengers will be greeted and have a photo opportunity with Charlie Brown, Lucy and Snoopy. Activities to enjoy at The Great Pumpkin Patch include: campfire marshmallows, a coloring station, temporary tattoos, trick or treating, petting zoo and a bouncy train. The children can also navigate through a giant hay bale maze. Other activities include: hay rides, bobbing for apples, apple cider or apple juice, and treats. There will be plenty of PEANUTS™ merchandise at the Bryson City Depot! Each child will also select their own small pumpkin from The Great Pumpkin Patch to take home.

Smoky Mountain Trains Museum admission is included with all train excursion tickets. Without train excursion, admission is $9.00 for adults and $5.00 for children.

For more information and reservations please call 800-872-4681 or visit us online at www.GSMR.com.
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Delta Air Lines Creates New Loyalty Program Post, Appoints Jeff Robertson Vice President

Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today announced the creation of a new officer-level position, Vice President of Loyalty Programs, to support Delta's efforts to further provide high-value, world-class loyalty and partnership programs for the airline’s 42 million SkyMiles members worldwide, and the appointment of Jeff Robertson to this new role.

“The creation of this key, new position reflects the continued importance of the SkyMiles program to Delta and our valued customers,” said Lee Macenczak, executive vice president of Sales and Marketing. “As we continue to move toward closing the merger with Northwest, we anticipate even greater opportunities to grow the program for our expanded base of members worldwide while improving its revenue and profit performance for the company. Under Jeff’s leadership, the SkyMiles program has continued to make significant, industry-leading advances and progress while simultaneously becoming an award-winning customer favorite.”

Robertson, 40, previously served as managing director of SkyMiles.. He is also responsible for co-leading integration efforts toward combining the Northwest WorldPerks and Delta SkyMiles programs to create the world’s largest airline loyalty program. In addition, Robertson oversees all domestic and international frequent flier alliances, the Delta SkyMiles/American Express co-branded credit card, all program partnerships, the Medallion Program and elite benefits, award travel and SkyMiles program technology. Robertson joined the airline in 2002 as director of Customer Insight and Analytics, responsible for corporate CRM objectives, Marketing Research and Customer Analytics.

Prior to Delta, Robertson held various management positions at McKinsey & Company, American Airlines and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Robertson holds an MBA with a concentration in Marketing from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, and a BS in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind.

The award-winning Delta SkyMiles program offers members multiple mileage-earning opportunities when flying Delta, Delta Shuttle®, the Delta Connection® carriers, Delta AirElite® and other SkyTeam® airlines. Additional mileage-building opportunities are offered through more than 100 partners such as the Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express, participating hotels, car rental companies, the SkyMiles Store, restaurants, SkyMilesShopping.com, floral and gift retailers and more. Now in its 27th year, SkyMiles is one of the longest-running and most successful loyalty programs in the travel industry. It was named “Best Domestic Frequent Flyer program” for 2007 and 2008 by readers of Executive Traveler magazine and “Best Frequent Flyer Program” for 2006 and 2007 by Business Traveler magazine. The program also received top honors for “Best Bonus Promotion” from InsideFlyer magazine at the 2007 Freddie Awards.

Delta Air Lines operates service to more worldwide destinations than any airline with Delta and Delta Connection flights to 290 destinations in 60 countries. Delta has added more international capacity than any major U.S. airline during the last two years and is the leader across the Atlantic with flights to 44 trans-Atlantic markets. To Latin America and the Caribbean, Delta offers 288 weekly flights to 42 destinations. Delta's marketing alliances also allow customers to earn and redeem SkyMiles on more than 16,000 flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. Including its SkyTeam and worldwide codeshare partners, Delta offers flights to 500 worldwide destinations in 105 countries. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and flight status at delta.com.
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The Westin Atlanta Airport Becomes Atlanta’s Destination for Travelers to Revive and Refresh Upon Completion of Guest Room Renovations

The Westin Atlanta Airport is near completion of a multi-million dollar renovation to the hotel’s 500 guest rooms, reinforcing the commitment of the renewal of guests during their stay. The rejuvenation of the guest rooms is part of a $18 million renovation which will also include improvements to meeting space, the lobby and the hotel’s exterior.

The hotel’s mission of renewing, relaxing and reviving each hotel guest is evidenced by the special touches in each guest room including: the heavenly sleep experience of the newest version of the Westin Heavenly Bed®, new carpeting, 32" LG® flat-screen televisions with jack pack connections that allow guests to utilize the 24-hour High-Speed Internet Access, listen to their iPod® and watch television from the same source, among other amenities. Adjoining every bedroom is an elegantly tiled bathroom featuring Westin’s rejuvenating Heavenly Bath®, with its fully customizable shower, the back-lit Westin Heavenly Mirror, and spa-like amenities.

“The renovations complement our impeccable service, offering a relaxing stay for harried travelers,” General Manager Bill Henderson said. “When a guest chooses to stay with us, our commitment to renewal, service and loyalty will leave a lasting impression.”

The guest room enhancements confirm the Westin Atlanta Airport’s dedication to providing the business traveler with a relaxing experience. Other services that the hotel provides to allow business travelers to travel effortlessly:

BAGS - hotel skycap service that allows guests to check their luggage and receive their boarding pass in the hotel lobby.

24-Hour Room Service - around the clock in-room dining for guests arriving on late flights from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Real Time Fight Info (coming in late 2008) - guests can check on the arrival/departure times of flights from the hotel lobby or the comfort of their guest rooms.

Flight Check-In – guests can check-in and print their boarding passes at the front desk or through the BAGS service.
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JetBlue Airways is Nickel-and-Diming Fares! Flights and Vacation Packages Now Up for Bid On eBay Starting At Five and Ten Cents* Each

GLOBE NEWSWIRE - Value airline JetBlue Airways Corporation (Nasdaq:JBLU) today announced it is auctioning more than 300 roundtrip flights and six JetBlue Getaways Vacation packages on eBay, the world's largest online marketplace, with opening bids starting at a nickel or a dime (*taxes and fees apply). Customers can join in the online auction action at www.jetblue.com/ebay from today through September 14.

The first airline to sell last-minute flights and packages on eBay, JetBlue, JetBlue is offering flights and packages to more than 20 destinations, including four mystery JetBlue Getaways Vacation packages -- two "No Passport Necessary" and two "Pack Your Passport" -- to exciting undisclosed locations. Each mystery Getaways vacation package includes flights for two and hotel accommodation at a four-star Marriott property.

"We're putting the price of spontaneous weekend trips this fall into the hands of our customers," said Don Uselmann, Manager of Business Development for JetBlue Airways. "This is their chance to compete to get the best deals on flights and vacation packages to many of JetBlue's most exciting destinations -- on their own terms. And no matter what flight they win, our lucky eBay customers, like every JetBlue customer, will enjoy our award-winning in-flight experience -- 36 channels of DIRECTV, 100 XM Satellite Radio stations, Dunkin' Donuts coffee, lots of legroom, and delicious brand name snacks and sodas -- for free**."

JetBlue's three-day, five-day and seven-day auctions on eBay include one and two person roundtrip, weekend flights in September from cities including: Boston, Chicago, New York, Orlando, Salt Lake City, Fort Lauderdale and Southern California. In addition, JetBlue Getaways Vacation packages, including airfare and a four-night hotel stay for two are also up for bid to Las Vegas and Nassau, Bahamas. Outbound travel packages take place on Thursdays and Fridays, returning Sundays and Mondays. All travel must be complete by Monday, October 6, 2008.

* Taxes and Fees Apply. All air travel and vacation packages are nonrefundable, nontransferable, and name changes are not permitted. Travel must take place and be completed on the dates and times stated in the Flight Details Section of the Bid page. Bids/fares do not include Passenger Facility Charges of up to $9 each way, September 11th Security Fees of up to $5 each way and a Federal Segment Tax of $3.50 per domestic segment. A segment is a takeoff and landing. Puerto Rico fares also do not include an excise tax of $15.40 each way. Bid/Fares for international travel also do not include government fees and taxes of up to $76.20 each way. Winning bidder is responsible for all taxes and fees, which must be paid at the time of purchase. Additional bag charges may apply. To view our baggage fees, please visit jetblue.com/baggage. JetBlue reserves the right to deny boarding to passengers without proper documentation. Cancellations and changes are not permitted for vacation packages or the air component of vacation packages. However, for air-only travel, changes and cancellations can be made prior to scheduled departure for $100 per person at 1-800-JETBLUE (538-2583), 1-297-588-5388 if located in Aruba, 1-800-861-3372 if located in Mexico, 1-809-200-9898 if located in Dominican Republic, 1-801-365-2583 if located in St. Maarten, 1-800-884-9616 if located in Bermuda, or at jetblue.com, with applicable fare adjustment. Cancellations are for a JetBlue travel credit only, which is valid for one year. If a reservation is not changed or cancelled prior to scheduled departure, all money associated with the reservation is forfeited. JetBlue reserves the right to deny boarding to passengers without proper documentation. All travel is subject to JetBlue's Contract of Carriage and applicable tariffs on file with the Department of Transportation. In the case of vacation packages, JetBlue's Ebay Getaway Terms and Conditions Apply. Other restrictions apply.
**DIRECTV(r) service is not available on flights outside the continental United States.
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JetBlue to Waive Fees to Assist Customers Affected by Tropical Storm Hanna

(GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq:JBLU) will waive change fees and fare differences to allow customers booked to or from Nassau, Bahamas, to postpone their travel plans due to the projected path of Tropical Storm Hanna.

Customers who are booked to travel September 3-5 to or from Nassau may opt to change to new flights -- between the same cities -- that depart anytime through September 9. All changes are subject to seat availability and must be made prior to the customer's originally scheduled departure. Customers may rebook their travel online at www.jetblue.com.

To check on the status of flights or to check the availability of alternate flights, customers are encouraged to log on to www.jetblue.com or call 1-800-JETBLUE (538-2583). Customers with web-enabled cell phones and PDAs may also check the status of their flight via mobile.jetblue.com.
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Delta Adds Brazil’s Amazon Region, Beaches of Northeast Coast to Growing Service between Atlanta and Latin America

Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today announced it will offer two new direct flights between the United States and Brazil, offering convenient access for customers traveling to the Amazon region and to two of the most popular beach destinations in the Brazilian Northeast. Beginning Dec. 19, 2008, Delta will offer nonstop service between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the Eduardo Gomez International Airport in Manaus. On Dec. 21, Delta will start service between Atlanta and the Fortaleza International Airport via the Guararapes International Airport in Recife.*

This new service increases to 32 the number of weekly flights Delta offers between the United States and five Brazilian destinations.

Delta currently offers daily nonstop service between Atlanta and New York-JFK and São Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport, and between Atlanta and Rio de Janeiro’s Galeão-Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport. Delta recently also announced the addition of a seasonal frequency between Atlanta and São Paulo, effective Dec. 20, 2008. Manaus is the capital of Amazonas, Brazil’s largest state and home to the region’s main port. It is the starting point for travelers who want to discover the wonders of the tropical rainforest and ecological tourism options along the Rio Negro and Amazon Rivers, the largest in the world.

Recife, the capital of the Brazilian state of Pernambuco, is a gateway to famous tropical beaches and world-renowned resorts, and hosts one of the main Carnival festivals of the country.
Fortaleza, the capital of the state of Ceará, lies on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, in the northeast of Brazil, offering 16 miles of urban beaches and an array of tourism, cultural and gastronomic options.Delta’s schedule between Atlanta and Manaus, effective Dec. 19, 2008:

Flight
Departs
Arrives
Frequency
Aircraft
557
Atlanta at 5 p.m.
Manaus at 12:22 a.m.
Daily
Boeing 737-700
558**
Manaus at 1:30 a.m.
Atlanta at 7:09 a.m.
Daily
Boeing 737-700** Service begins Dec. 20, 2008
Delta’s schedule between Atlanta and Recife-Fortaleza, effective Dec. 21, 2008:
Flight
Departs
Arrives
Frequency
Aircraft
90
Atlanta at 9:15 p.m.
Recife at 8:05 a.m.
Tue., Thurs, Fri. Sun.
Boeing 757-200
90***
Recife at 9:23 a.m.
Fortaleza at 10:45 a.m.
Mon., Wed., Fri., Sat.
Boeing 757-200
90***
Fortaleza at 11:45 a.m.
Atlanta at 6:40 p.m.
Mon., Wed., Fri., Sat.
Boeing 757-200

**** Service begins Dec. 22, 2008. One-way or round-trip service between Recife and Fortaleza is not permitted. All flights must originate or end in the United States.

To kick off the new service, Delta is offering a special one-way introductory fare of $659*** on the Atlanta-Manaus route, and $599*** on the Atlanta-Recife-Fortaleza route for travel between Jan. 6 and March 27, 2009. Round-trip ticket purchase required. Tickets must be purchased by Sept. 8, 2008. Additional taxes/fees/restrictions/baggage charges may apply. Details are included below.

“These new flights are the result of the recent limited expansion of the bilateral agreement between the governments of the United States and Brazil, which opens the door to new opportunities for tourists as well as new business ventures between the two countries,” said Christophe Didier, Delta’s vice president of Sales and Government Affairs for Latin America and the Caribbean. "We look forward to continued expansion of this agreement in the future."

Delta Air Lines operates service to more worldwide destinations than any airline with Delta and Delta Connection flights to 312 destinations in 61 countries. Delta has added more international capacity than any major U.S. airline during the last two years and is the leader across the Atlantic with flights to 44 trans-Atlantic markets. To Latin America and the Caribbean, Delta offers 393 weekly flights to 47 destinations. Delta's marketing alliances also allow customers to earn and redeem SkyMiles on more than 16,000 flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. Including its SkyTeam and worldwide codeshare partners, Delta offers flights to 500 worldwide destinations in 105 countries. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and flight status at delta.com.

*Subject to foreign government approval.

***TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Restrictions: Fare shown is available at delta.com. Tickets cost $25 more if purchased from Delta over the phone, or at a Delta ticket counter, and this amount is nonrefundable. Tickets are nontransferable. Seats are limited. Tickets: Fare shown is one-way. Round-trip purchase is required. Tickets must be purchased within 72 hours after reservations are made and no later than September, 8 2008. Travel Period: For all destinations: Travel may begin on or after January 6, 2009 and must be completed by March 27, 2009. Blackout Dates: None. Fare Validity: Fare is valid only in the Economy (Coach) cabin via nonstop flights operated by Delta Air Lines. Minimum Stay: Saturday night. Maximum Stay: All travel must be completed by March 27, 2009. Taxes/Fees: A $3.50 Federal Excise Tax, Passenger Facility Charge(s) of up to $4.50 for each flight segment, and the September 11th Security Fee of up to $2.50 for each flight segment are not included. Fares do not include U.S. International Air Transportation Tax of up to $30.80 and U.S. and foreign user, inspection, security or other similarly based charges, fees or taxes of up to $299, depending on itinerary. Taxes and fees must be paid when the ticket is purchased. Baggage Charges: For travel within the United States/PR/U.S. Virgin Islands, no fee for 1 checked bag and $50 fee for second checked bag. For all other travel, no fee for 2 checked bags and $200 fee for third checked bag. Allowances subject to size/weight limits. Contact a delta agent or visit delta.com for details. Cancellations/Refunds/Changes: Tickets are nonrefundable except in accordance with Delta’s cancellation policy. Fees may apply for downgrades/reissues and itinerary changes. Contact a Delta agent or visit delta.com for details. Miscellaneous: Fares, taxes, fees, rules, and offers are subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply. ©2008 Delta Air Lines, Inc.
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Delta Customers Affected by Tropical Storm Fay May Change Travel Plans Without Penalties or Fees through Aug. 21

Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) customers booked on flights to, from or through select Florida and Georgia cities may make adjustments to their travel schedule without penalty or fees due to flooding and high winds expected from Tropical Storm Fay.

Customers who purchased tickets by Aug. 16, 2008, and are scheduled to travel Aug. 16-21, to, from or through the following cities on Delta, Delta Connection® or Delta-coded flights may make a one-time change without penalty or additional fees if tickets are changed by Aug. 21, 2008.

Brunswick, Ga.
Daytona Beach, Fla.
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Ft. Myers, Fla.
Gainesville, Fla.
Jacksonville, Fla.
Key West, Fla.
Melbourne, Fla.
Miami, Fla.
Orlando, Fla.
Sarasota, Fla.
Tampa, Fla.
Valdosta, Ga.
West Palm Beach, Fla.

Travel must begin on or before Aug. 21, 2008. Changes to origin and destination may result in a fare increase. Any fare difference between the original ticket and the new ticket will be collected at the time of rebooking.

Customers whose flights are canceled may request refunds. All customers are encouraged to visit delta.com/travelupdates for the latest news on Tropical Storm Fay.

For updates on flights visit delta.com or call 1-800-325-1999 for flight status.
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