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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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Free, Fun Activities at Trail Mix Celebration at Little Mulberry Park

Head outside and explore the trails as Gwinnett County Parks & Recreation celebrates National Trails Day! A huge success last year, this year’s Trail Mix Celebration will be held this Sat., June 7, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Little Mulberry Park (Hog Mountain Road entrance) in Dacula.

The day will begin with an equestrian trail ride for those with their own horses at 8 a.m., followed by the Gwinnett Parks Foundation’s two-mile Trail Mix Fun Run/Walk, which begins at 8:30 a.m. The entry fee for the fun run/walk is $10 per person, or $25 for a family of up to five people, and includes a commemorative t-shirt.

A 4.5-mile strenuous nature hike that will wind from one side of the 890-acre park to the other will begin at 9 a.m. Beginning at 10 a.m. free activities will be located throughout the park, including hayrides, a petting zoo, pony rides, make-and-take crafts, a rock climbing wall, Hikes for Tykes, as well as fun environmental, animal, outdoor, fishing, and educational programs. Food concessions will also be available for sale.

A shuttle to the park will be provided from Hamilton Mill United Methodist Church, located at 1450 Pine Road across the street from the park entrance.

To register for the Gwinnett Parks Foundation Trail Mix Fun Run/Walk, call 770-339-0203. Participants can also register at 8 a.m. on the day of the event.

Little Mulberry Park – Hog Mountain entrance is located at 3900 Hog Mountain Road in Dacula.

For more information call 770-822-8840 or visit www.gwinnettparks.com.