Johnson City Community Drum Circle
The Johnson City Community Drum Circle meets every Wednesday evenings through October 24, 7pm – 8:30pm, inside the Farmers’ Market Pavilion next to Founders Park. Everyone is welcome and any body can play. Come drum, hoop/holler, dance, or just relax and take in the scene, no experience or “talent” necessary. There are shared instruments and of course you can bring your own drums or percussion. It’s all improvised, so there are no mistakes. We just smile and keep playing. Shine or rain, the pavilion has us covered. Bring your own seating!
Train excursion & Riverboat cruise
The George L. Carter Railroad Museum at East Tennessee State University and the George L. Carter Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society will sponsor a scenic train excursion and riverboat cruise in Knoxville on Saturday, May 19.
Tickets for the excursion are $90 each for adults and $80 for children ages 3-12; children ages two and under may ride free.
Passengers should arrive at ETSU’s parking lot 22A on Go Bucs Trail no later than 7:30 a.m. to travel to Knoxville. The Three Rivers Rambler steam train will depart from the depot at 10 a.m. and follow a scenic route along the Tennessee River. Upon returning to the boat dock at noon, passengers will be delivered to the Tennessee Riverboat Co.for the luncheon cruise. Buses will begin loading at 2:30 p.m. for departure at 3 p.m. and will return to Johnson City around 5:30 p.m.
Ticket order and liability waiver forms are available at the Carter Railroad Museum, located in the Campus Center Building at ETSU and open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., or by visiting www.memrr.org and clicking on “NRHS Excursions” and “Excursions.” A signed liability waiver form must accompany the ticket request. Payment may be made by check or money order payable to the G.L. Carter Chapter, NRHS, and mailed to G.L. Carter Chapter, NRHS; attn.: Carolyn Gregg, 460 Plainview Heights Circle, Greeneville, TN 37745. Space is limited and tickets must be purchased no later than May 7. For more information, contact Carolyn Gregg at carolyngregg55@yahoo.com, 423-639-3966 or 423-329-4369.
The Casual Word Adult Creative Writing Class
Join us for a free, fun, engaging, and different look into writing. In this class, we will not focus on structure, form, or rules, but on the freedom of writing. It is the goal of this class to open the mind to its full creative potential by allowing participants to write what they want, how they want to write it. Sessions will be student lead; we will engage in topics and subjects that are of interest to the students. The atmosphere is casual and jovial. This class is designed for all those 18 and up who wish to try their hand at creative writing. Thursdays @ 6:00 p.m. Jones Creativity Center. Bristol Public Library.
Volunteer and Make a BIG Impact
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Tri-Cities is looking for community volunteers to make a difference in a child’s life. Spending approximately 4 hours a month with an at-risk youth can help them improve in school, their behavior and their self-esteem.
Find out more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Tri-Cities at 423-247-3240, or visit TennesseeBig.org.
The Cleverlys to perform Free Concert
The Cleverlys, a faux family band that mixes comedy and musicianship in a unique fusion it calls “GrassHipPop,” will perform a free public concert at East Tennessee State University on Wednesday, April 25. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. in the D.P. Culp University Center’s Martha Street Culp Auditorium. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m.
The Cleverlys, comprised of Digger Cleverly and his nephews, Ricky Lloyd, Sock, DVD and STD, have traveled the globe – if the “globe” consisted of the United States – performing at a variety of music venues and festivals, such as Stagecoach, Telluride and CMA Fest, as well as the Grand Ole Opry.
A clear bag policy will be enforced, and all patrons will be subject to search by metal detector. For complete concert policy information, visit https://www.etsu.edu/students/sorc/documents/cleverlys_ticket_info.pdf.
For more information, contact Carter Warden, assistant director of Student Activities, at 423-439-8474 or wardence1@etsu.edu. For disability accommodations, call the ETSU Office of Disability Services at 423-439-8346.
Open call for athletes to “audition” for Olympic sport
Do you think you have what it takes to compete at the elite level in sports? The Olympic Training Site at East Tennessee State University wants to hear from you.
The ETSU Next Olympic Hopeful Tryout will be held Saturday, May 26, and is open to anyone ages 14 and up. The event will be held at Science Hill High School’s Kermit Tipton Stadium from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Check-in will begin at 10 a.m.
Tests to be performed at the event include a 30-meter sprint, vertical jump and maximum pull-ups. Optional tests are the one-mile run and three-repetition maximum back squat. There is no cost to participate but pre-registration is required. The registration deadline is Sunday, May 20. To register, or for more information, contact Emily Brockelman at brockelman@etsu.edu.
Birding Kingsport
Birding Kingsport, a club formed to connect area birders with all things birds, will meet Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at Toy F. Reid Eastman Employee Center, 400 S. Wilcox Drive, Kingsport, at 7:00 in Room 225. Gary Bailey, well-known area birder, will present the program ‘Alaska Adventures in Birding’. For more information see birdingkingsport.org.
Abracadabra: The Magic of Reading Revealed
Nationally-acclaimed magician and online video sensation Justin Flom has appeared on Ellen, network late-night shows, and The Today Show, and will appear in Southwest Virginia on April 28th. Magician Justin Flom is scheduled to perform to benefit United Way of Southwest Virginia at “Abracadabra: The Magic of Reading Revealed” on April 28 at Emory & Henry McGlothlin Center for the Arts. Tickets are available now to this family-friendly event at unitedwayswva.org/magic.
