John Hicks with his 1931 Ford. Photo by George Zepp.

Antique Car Show and Legacy Concert July 9

The 4^th Annual Legacy Classic Rock Event will be held on July 9. This year, Historic Rugby will also be hosting an antique car show that same day. In addition, crafters from the area will be selling their wares and goods. Plenty of great food will be available at the Harrow Road Café including smoked pulled pork. The Café will be open 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time. The Antique Car Show and the Arts and Craft’s vendors will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Legacy will begin its concert at 7:45 p.m. on the front lawn of the Visitor Centre.

There is no charge for these events. Donations will be accepted with all proceeds going to Historic Rugby’s Forest Legacy Land Conservation Campaign. Be sure to plan for a full day of fun, education and entertainment. Bring the family, comfortable chairs and enjoy the activities throughout the day. If you have an antique car that you would like to show, please call Historic Rugby as space is limited.

For more information, call toll-free 888-214-3400 or locally at 423-628-2441 or visit www.historicrugby.org.  Lodging is available at 1880 Newbury House and the cottages.

Photos of the Week

Historic Rugby's Member Reception Held Saturday



Zeb Turrentine plays classical guitar at Visitor Centre

Some of the members at Saturday's member recognition event pose while anxiously awaiting the opening of the wine.

In addition to great food prepared by the Cafe and good music provided by a local musician, there was an incredible video prepared by Jane and Steve Logan showing many volunteer projects accomplished this last year.  Photos by Rick Murphy

Tree Trimming by Pine Knot Arborists

Work is done by arborists and students with the Pine Knot Job Corp Forestry Program to remove dead tree limbs and trim limbs that were too close to the roof at Newbury House.  They also removed a large rotted pine tree looming over the driveway at Pioneer Cottage. The program has donated many hours of work to Historic Rugby.  Photos by Steve Logan and George Zepp

Gibbs Honored by Cavers

Charles Gibbs receives the National Speleogical Society Lifetime Achievement Award from Bruce Smith representing the Society.  Photo provided by Julian Bankston

Thanks from Rita and Tyler

By Rita and Tyler Myers

Thank you to all our special friends for their prayers, thoughtfulness, and generosity during our loss of Christopher.  Your caring made a heartfelt difference.

BIRTHDAYS

June 28 - George Crabtree

June 29 - Wil Thornthwaite

July 2 - Bob Hemminger

July 4 - Jim Meadows

CALENDAR

Rugby is in the Eastern Time zone, just barely

Saturday, July 2 – Hicks’ Annual Independence Day Picnic. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. EDT at their house (Lizzie's Place) in Beacon Hill. The popular duo of Butch Hodgkins and Doug Piercy will provide musical entertainment. Please bring a dish to share. John and Kathy will provide barbeque and soft drinks.

Saturday, July 9 - Antique Car Show and the Arts and Craft’s - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern

 Saturday, July 9 - 4^th Annual Legacy Classic Rock Concert – 7:45 p.m. Eastern in front of Visitor Centre

Saturday, July 16 – Book Club. 7 p.m. EDT at the Friendly House behind Christ Church. We will discuss Hadley Hury’s book of short stories, “It’s Not the Heat.” This is a special chance to ask the author questions and get your book signed. Readers are also welcome to read Hadley’s novel, set on the Gulf Coast – “The Edge of the Gulf: A Novel of Suspense.”

Quilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2–4 p.m. EDT at the Friendly House


NATURE NOTES

Meet Pepe LePew's Cousin

By Linda Konig

Well, you might think I would have seen or heard about all the different mammals we have around Rugby by now, but about a week ago Charles Gibbs told me about an unusual skunk he'd seen at his bee hives the night before.  Actually, he'd seen it at twilight, and it was eating dead bees around the hives.  He said he couldn't see much of its body, but it had two white spots over its eyes, kind of like eyebrows.  Also, it didn't have a stripe down its back.

That set me to looking up a possible skunk that could meet that description.  From what I found, we could very well have Eastern Spotted Skunks around here.  Maps on the WEB show them all over the Eastern part of the U.S., but they're thinly scattered.

I'd never heard of them, but later in the week Charles said he'd seen the skunk again, and this time he could see that there were spots down its sides.  Well, he saw the skunk three nights in a row, every time just before dark.  Eastern Spotteds are more active at twilight and dusk, so that fact adds credence to Charles' sighting of a real Spotted Skunk.  I haven't gotten to see it yet, but I hope to soon.

Charles has promised to call me when he sees it again.  Don't worry; we could watch it from a safe distance, from the balcony or screened-in porch.

 It was fun to read about the Eastern Spotteds.  They're quite different in some ways from our more common Striped Skunks.  Perhaps the most unusual thing about them is that they're the only kind of skunk in the world that can climb bushes and trees.  This is possible because of their unusual front claws which are like a ferret's. They will climb to get at berries and apples and will also climb trees to get away from predators.

Another unusual trait is that they always do a handstand and twist their rear around to aim when they're ready to spray.  Believe it or not, their spray is supposed to stink worse than the Striped Skunk's spray. Didn't know that was possible!  However, they're said to be slightly less inclined to spray, and sometimes they'll even walk away from an encounter.  These Eastern Spotteds are more active and seem more alert than their slower cousins, the Stripeds.  Like other skunks, their eyesight is very poor, but their hearing is super keen.

I was hoping that Charles would have a photo of his twilight visitor by now, but since he hasn't, you can find good photos of this particular skunk at www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=MA0039.   These skunks have shorter legs and are smaller than the Stripeds, and I must say, I think they're cute as the dickens.  Just don't get in the line of fire.

Historic Rugby’s Workshops

Photo shows most of the quilting class from last weekend.  Photo by class participant Vi Biehl.

Saturday, July 2 - Wet on Wet Oil Painting ~ “Rugby Christmas in July." 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. EDT. Instructor: Mara Trumbo. Fee $60. For beginners to advanced, create an oil painting of Christ Church in Historic Rugby, learning design, wet-on-wet technique, color mixing and composition.

Saturday, July 9 - Ferns of the Cumberland Plateau ~ 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. EDT. Instructor: Dr. Patricia Cox. Fee $18. An overview of fern morphology and ferns of the Cumberland Plateau will be presented followed by a hike to put your newfound information to the test and to see how many species of native ferns we can find along the way.

Saturday July 16 - Kudzu Basketry ~ 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. EDT. Instructor: Fuzzy Orange. Fee $35. Learn to create a simple or complex basket woven with kudzu. Once student learn to weave a kudzu basket, they will have the skills to weave any vine basket.

Saturday August 27 - Vegetable and Flower Gardening For The Fall ~ 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. EDT. Instructor: Bob Washburn. Fee $15. Planting a fall garden provides an opportunity to garden with fresh vegetables and flowers throughout the fall and early winter. The cool season enhances the flavor of vegetables. You will also learn the varieties and proper times to plant for the best fall garden ever. Bob will have a delightful selection of vegetables and flowering plants from his 52-greenhouse nursery available for sale.

Saturday, August 27 - It’s All Done With Mirrors – “The Kaleidoscope” ~ 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. EDT. Instructor: Sara Senft. Fee $65. The world of kaleidoscopes will be explored. This includes various mirror configurations, how object boxes are constructed, etc. Each student will complete a kaleidoscope to take home.

Saturday, September 10 - English Country Dancing For Beginners ~ 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. EDT (with a two-hour break). Instructor: Mary Hemminger. Fee $25. Come learn simple historic dances that were written and compiled in England in the 1600s and 1700s, the earliest being published in 1651. The dancing will be to recorded music. Individuals will use walking steps for most dances, as well as some slipping and skipping steps during the course of the day.

Saturday, September 17 - Victorian Decorations ~ 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. EDT. Instructors: Beth Hester, JoNell Hester and Joyce Lantz. Fee $25. Using fabric, lace, paper, ribbon and reed, create charming Victorian ornaments. At the end of the day, take home 6-8 ornaments plus many ideas and patterns.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 23, 24, and 25 - White Oak Basketry ~ 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. EDT. Instructor: Bobby Edwards. Fee $130. This very popular 3-day workshop teaches the art of White Oak basketry from tree selection, splits, rims and handles to weaving a beautiful traditional basket. This is an experience not to be missed even if it does require “hand strength.”

Saturday, October 15 - Autumn Gathering and Arranging ~ 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. EDT. Instructor: Linda Konig. Fee $24. Join us in the fields and roadsides to gather dried wildflowers, seed heads, berries and nuts to create your own fall arrangement. Learn the names of and interesting information about all your “autumn gatherings”.

To register for workshops, call toll-free 1-888-214-3400 or 423-628-2441. Lodging may be available at 1880 Newbury House and local cottages at a 10% discount to students. Food service is available at the Harrow Road Café.

Historic Rugby’s website at http://www.historicrugby.org/ lists all workshops for the year.


This Week’s Editors: Rick Murphy and George Zepp