Thanks to George Zepp for helping put this week’s newsletter together.
Rugby Bypass Delayed
Funding for building the long-planned bypass road around Rugby will not be in this year’s state budget, Barbara Stagg told the Historic Rugby Board of Directors yesterday. She said that even though property for the new road has been acquired by the state and all planning and engineering has been completed, state budget problems are preventing actual construction from being funded this year. Many in Rugby have worked over several decades for a bypass to help avoid vehicular accidents that have occurred on a regular basis along Highway 52 here. The HRI Board discussed plans to renew its efforts to support funding for the road construction project in the following year’s budget.
Bottle Bill
Rugby residents and visitors fed up with litter along local roads may want to know that the Tennessee Container Deposit bill is scheduled to be heard Wednesday in the Senate Environment Committee. This proposed legislation, also known as the “bottle bill,” requires that a deposit be collected on designated beverage containers. The consumer pays it at the point of purchase and gets it back when returning the empty container to a certified redemption center. More info about the bill is available at http://www.tnbottlebill.org/
State Senator Tommy Kilby, who represents the district that includes Rugby, is the Environment Committee chair. The special interests, that is the bottlers, have hired lobbyists from out of state to help them fight against this. Legislators are under a lot of pressure from them. However, there is a very good chance that the bottle bill will pass if it can get out of this committee and to the floor.
If you are tired of all the recyclable bottles and cans on the roadside, contact Senator Kilby and tell him that you support the bottle bill. His email: mailto:sen.tommy.kilby@legislature.state.tn.us
HRI Announces Executive Director Search
In a newsletter that Historic Rugby is mailing to members this week, an announcement says the Board of Directors is beginning the search for a new Executive Director. Current Executive Director Barbara Stagg will remain in a key role as Executive Director Emeritus. Here is the text of the announcement:
“Historic Rugby's longtime executive director Barbara Stagg and the Historic Rugby board have been planning a transition process to hire a new executive director. The board search committee includes chair John Hicks, Rick Murphy, Beth Hester, Jim Meadows and Stagg. The position will be advertised primarily online beginning in late May, including on Historic Rugby's website, with a currently projected fall start date. To assure continuity and the strongest possible support for the new executive director, Stagg will remain full-time, then part-time, as executive director emeritus, dealing primarily with capital development and land projects, in addition to assisting the new director toward full responsibility for year-round operations.”
Spirit of Red Hill Reopens
Saturday was the grand reopening of the Spirit of Red Hill. It was good to see all the new and old offerings that Donna Heffner and Annie Patterson have this year. Among them is some very interesting new jewelry, decorative pins called “Wired Women” which would be the perfect gift for that stressed-out lady in your life. I also noticed that they have five antique books by Rugby’s founder and author Thomas Hughes. As usual, Donna has outdone herself with her gourd creations.
There is a slight delay in the reappearance of Mr. Gordon. Apparently he is suffering from allergies due to all the spring blooms, but Annie promises that he will be back on the front porch next weekend.
Tomato Plants Selling Well at the Commissary
Commissary Manager Rita Elliott said plant sales at the Commissary are robust and that the new heirloom tomato plants seem to be especially popular. This is the first year that Historic Rugby has been selling plants. The heirloom primroses are also still for sale. They were taken from local garden stock, repotted in the new greenhouse and then groomed in the cold frame so they are particularly healthy looking.
Blooms, Butterflies, Birds and Moths
Anyone who has been around Rugby lately knows that it has been a spectacular spring for blooming trees and shrubs. The lilac bushes are as full of blooms as I have ever seen them. Dogwoods blossoms, which were cut short last year by a late frost, are really good this year. And the bright yellow Japanese kerria to the left of Ivy Cottage and next to the Lindens Barn are in their full glory. Various varieties of late blooming white daffodils are also in bloom.
With all the flowers, this is also turning out to be a good year for things of the flying sort. George Zepp put out a hummingbird feeder at Walton Court early last week and we started seeing hungry hummingbirds that very day. Yesterday he saw a visiting flock of rose-breasted grosbeaks. The lilacs and blooming trees seem to be full of butterflies already.
Carrie Thornthwaite captured this spectacular picture of a luna moth which she found at the base of a tree in the yard of their Beacon Hill home, Allonby.
Birthdays
April 29 - Marietta Poteet
Calendar of Events
May 3 - Community Potluck 7:00 pm EDT
May 9 – History Club 7:30 pm EDT
May – 17 & 18 – 34th Annual Festival of British & Appalachian Culture at Historic Rugby 10:00 am to 6:00 pm EDT both days. Admission daily $8 for Adults; $4 for K-12 Students, Preschoolers free, 2 day pass $12
Historic Rugby Workshops – contact Historic Rugby at 1-888-214-3400 or locally at 628-2441 for details and reservations or check online for more information at http://www.historicrugby.org/workshop/workshop.htm
May 31 - Learn to Play the Mountain Dulcimer - Beginner Level with instructor June Goforth. 10:00 am to 4:00 pm EDT. Fee $30
June 7 – Fit and Fun with Missy Kane – Learn secrets for staying trim after 50 starting with a two mile power walk. Includes lecture on foods for fitness, a nutritional lunch and a 3-5 mile afternoon hike. 9:00 am to 2:00 pm EDT. Fee $35 – lunch $9 (optional)
Exercise Group - Monday and Thursday at 9:00 am EDT at the Friendly House
Quilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm EDT at the Friendly House
