This Rugby Week is coming to you from a bit further east, from Johnson City, Tennessee. We did not quite make it back to Rugby today as planned due to the beautiful Christmas snow, still falling here Sunday night. But fortunately, several folks have emailed photos from Rugby. I have received mixed reports about the conditions of the roads in and around Rugby. Carrie Thornthwaite said her kids ran into problems on U.S. 127 in Clarkrange on Saturday night due to a weather-related traffic accident. Others have said that the road crews having been doing a good job and Highway 52 through Rugby was clear as of early Sunday evening.
Hadley Hury sent this beautiful photo of the snow-covered bandstand on top of Beacon Hill Park.
Below are a couple of photos sent by Benita Howell from the Christmas Day hike in Colditz Cove. She said Hannah and Zack Alley, formerly of Rugby’s Adena Cottage, joined them. Also visible are Vi Biehl, Eric Wilson, Rita Myers and Gerald Hanwright (hidden behind Rita). Here also is a photo of the falls with snow-covered evergreens and rhododendron.
Goodbye 2010
Whatever your experience may have been in 2010, there was one thing that stood out here in Rugby. It seems that in the Rugby community, both residents and friends have stepped up and helped make Rugby better in many ways. While the history and beauty of Rugby are certainly a focus of the village, Rugby has clearly become a living community of people.
Thanks to those of you who shared your stories and photos of the inhabitants of Rugby that became part of Rugby Week this year. Please, please, please continue to share your pictures and your accounts of our goings on.
We recently discovered that most of the photos for Rugby Week are saved and edited in a program that picks out the faces from each photo and saves them in a separate file. As a result, we now have a file with a couple thousand faces of residents, employees, visitors and friends of Rugby. We look forward to adding to this photo collection in the coming year and sharing it.
In reflection, here are just a few of the faces from 2010 …..
A Holiday Reminder
From Rugby’s Postmistress:
Anyone with a Rugby P.O. Box needs to check theirs for Christmas cards and other mail during this season.
Thank You. – Rita Myers
Historic Rugby Announces 2011 Winter Hours
Historic Rugby winter hours are shown below. All times are eastern. If driving a long distance, please call the toll-free number, 1-888-214-3400, beforehand to make sure nothing has changed.
The Harrow Road Café will be open New Year’s Day, January 1 and Monday, January 2 until noon serving breakfast. The Café will then be closed from January 3 until March for renovations. Please check the Historic Rugby website for updates.
The Schoolhouse Visitor Centre is open Monday thru Friday from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. (weather permitting). Weekday and weekend historic building tours can be arranged by advance reservation by calling the toll-free number, 1-888-214-3400.
The Rugby Commissary Museum Store and Post Office will also be closed during January and February for renovations. Please check the website for updates.
All Historic Rugby lodging facilities are available year round. To make reservations for lodging, group tours and meetings or to obtain Historic Rugby general information please call locally, 628-2441 or toll-free 1-888-214-3400. You can also visit the website at http://www.historicrugby.org/ or email rugbylegacy@highland.net .
Historic Rugby will resume regular hours at mid-March.
POST OFFICE WINTER CLOSING
By Cheryl Cribbet
Dear Rugby Residents:
On the recommendation of the U.S. Postal Service, we will be suspending interior Post Office services with the Commissary winter closing for January and February. All other services pertaining to mail delivery and pickup in the drop boxes located in the mailbox area will not be interrupted. The Elgin, Robbins, Allardt and Jamestown post offices will be open nearby for postal needs. As I have to drive by both the Robbins and Elgin post offices each weekday, I would be glad to pick up or drop off items for you. Please don't hesitate to give me a call.
Full Post Office services will resume on March 1, 2010, at the Commissary/Museum store.
We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
Massage Available in Rugby
By Jessie Gully
My daughter, Elizabeth Bosse, is licensed in massage and other energy work. She is willing to offer massage sessions in Rugby a couple of times a year. She will be visiting on January the 22nd and 23rd, if you are interest in an appointment call me 423-628-6090 or 931-260-3352, or if you are interested in knowing what all she offers visit www.ehbosselmt.massagetherapy.com
BIRTHDAYS
Dec. 30 - Ron Jackson
Dec. 31 - Chris Myers
Jan. 3 - Gayle Minor
CALENDAR
Friday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve Dinners at the Harrow Road Café and Grey Gables. Both require reservations.
Saturday, January 8 – Community Potluck, 7 p.m. followed by Neighborhood Watch meeting – Community Building
Saturday, January 15 – Book Club at the home of Kit and Candy Howes. Book selection is AMERICAN LION by Jon Meacham
January and February 2011 – Historic Rugby Winter Hours: The Schoolhouse Museum will be open Monday – Friday 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (weather permitting). Weekday and weekend historic building tours can be arranged by advance reservation by calling our toll-free number, 1-888-214-3400. Lodging will be offered throughout winter on a self-catering basis. The Café, Visitor Centre and Commissary (including the Post Office) will be closed for repairs. Normal operations will resume in March.
January and February 2011 – Grey Gables will be open for meals Friday and Saturday nights in January and the first two Friday and Saturday nights in February. A limited menu selection will be offered, but they hope it will give you a choice for food service during the time that the Harrow Road Cafe is closed for rejuvenation. Reservations are not required, but appreciated.
Quilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2-4 p.m. Eastern at the Friendly House
NATURE NOTES
By Linda Konig
A couple of weeks ago a couple visiting from Virginia was in the Harrow Road Cafe. They were avid birders and had evidently made a special trip down to Crossville to see a short-eared owl near a certain subdivision close to Lake Tansi. They were quite excited about seeing it. They had also spotted 4 or 5 northern harriers in the same meadow. I learned later that these two species are often found together. Teresa Coker was kind enough to tell these visitors about me and had gotten their e-mail address for me. So of course I contacted them and got specific directions to the place. The weather hasn't cooperated lately, but as soon as I possibly can I'm going down to see and hear the short-eared owl and the harriers. (Vi Biehl and I thought we saw a northern harrier last winter near the high Clear Fork bridge.) The couple had said that the owl was "barking" as it flew low to the ground.
I looked up everything I could find about this kind of owl. Yes, their most common call is a sharp wheezy bark! They can also scream or whine, and the male goes “poo-poo-poo” when seeking a mate. Another uncommon feature about them is the fact that they don't do much hunting after dark, but instead prefer to hunt at dawn and in late afternoon. They should be easy to see then since they fly low looking for voles, mice, and other prey. I was also surprised to learn that they build their nests and roost on fairly flat ground in high grasses of meadows near water, because most owls live in trees. If someone or something gets too close to a nest, the male, female, or both will go into a broken-wing display, hoping to lead a potential predator away from the nest. They aren't here all year, but some spend their winters in Tennessee.
Although they're the world's most widespread owl, they're not very common in the U.S. However, you can see one at http://www.flickr.com/photos/lipkee/440570622/ . Or some of us can go together down to Crossville some afternoon to look for them when the weather clears.
This Week’s Editors: Rick Murphy and George Zepp
