Party Welcomes New Executive Director

Saturday’s community reception for Historic Rugby’s new Interim Executive Director, Mike Harris, was a big success with approximately 50 people in attendance.  Mike mingled with the crowd talking about HRI projects and thanking everyone for their support.

 

The hosts, Jonell and Harry Hester, were dressed in their Victorian finery to greet the guests.  Their dining room table was beautiful with a large display of good things to eat. Quite a few folks in the community helped make this reception possible, volunteering their efforts and contributing food and drink.   

 

The reception was well timed as Historic Rugby’s Board of Directors had just held an all-day planning retreat at the Friendly House. That made this a good occasion for the board members to relax a little after a long day.

2011 British Car Show

British Car and Motorcycle Show Saturday

This Saturday, September 1, Rugby will be filled with British cars and motorcycles for all to enjoy. It’s the Rugby British Car and Motorcycle Show sponsored by the Plateau British Car Club and Historic Rugby. Visitors will enjoy viewing a wide variety of British-made cars and motorcycles.

People’s choice awards will be given for the cars and cycles chosen as favorites by visitors. Car and cycle owners will enjoy showing off their collections and talking to Rugby guests. In addition to the show, vendors and food will be available along with regular tours of historic buildings. Guests can enjoy a delicious barbeque plate or sample some of the specialties at the Harrow Road Café. Spectator admission to the show is free. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern/8-2 Central.

 

For more information or lodging reservations, phone Historic Rugby toll-free at (888) 214-3400 or at (423) 628-2441 or email rugbylegacy@highland.net

Arts and Crafts Workshop Held at Commissary

August 18 saw the inauguration of The Commissary’s upper floor as the new Arts and Crafts workshop classroom. Marsha Holm from Kentucky joined Kim Patterson of Crossville as participants in Mara Trumbo's "Oil Painting In One Day" class. Great fun was had by all, followed by shopping in the lower floor, a meal at the Harrow Road Cafe and overnight stay at historic Newbury House. Mara hopes to organize more of these Historic Rugby inclusive packages with "Taste Of Rugby" week-end special offers. – Mara Trumbo

 

 

 

BIRTHDAYS

 August 27 - Polly Allen and Jessica Neary

September 3 - Sam Neary

Poetry Corner

 

Hadley Hury has a poem, "Photos of Our New Hydrangeas," in the current summer issue of The Avatar Review. Here is the active link to the online version. Once there, click on Contents.  http://www.avatarreview.net/AV14/

 

CALENDAR

Rugby is in the Eastern time zone, just barely.

 

Saturday, September 1 – British Car and Motorcycle Show, 9-3 Eastern/ 8-2 Central   Saturday, September 1 – Community Potluck – 7 p.m. at the Friendly House Saturday, September 29 - Historic Rugby Pilgrimage – This tour is the only time this year that some of some of Rugby’s private homes are open to visitors. Guests will visit private historic and new period homes, historic museum buildings and lodgings. Come enjoy Morris dancing, music and period demonstrations.

Ongoing Activities

Quilters’ Group - Wednesdays and Saturdays, 2–4 p.m. Eastern, at the Friendly House behind Christ Church

Rugby Yoga – Wednesdays, 8:30 a.m. Eastern, at the Friendly House.

Christ Church Episcopal -- Sunday morning services, 11 a.m. Eastern, year round; all are welcomed.


Historic Rugby Workshops

White Oak Basketry Workshop -September 14-16

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." Fee is $130. Please make advanced reservations. For information about the instructors, go to whiteoakbaskets.com

Victorian Holiday Ornaments Workshop - September 22

Use fabric, lace, paper, ribbon and reed to create a charming Victorian ornament. At the end of the day, take home 6 to 8 ornaments, plus many creative ideas for later! This workshop will be led by a dynamic group of instructors: master basket maker Beth Hester, skilled heritage craft instructor Joyce Lantz and Jody Hester, who is known for her quilts and decorating. Hester has also helped outfit half of the village of Rugby in Victorian costumes she helped make. Fee is $25.

---

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

  

NATURE NOTES

Spotted Skunks

By Linda Konig

I'll admit I'd never even heard of Spotted Skunks until last year. But yes, there are such animals. In fact, there are two kinds: the Eastern Spotted Skunk and the Western Spotted Skunk.  I'd sort of pictured spots like a leopard, but actually their spots look like several broken-up stripes. For a nice photo of this unusual animal, try http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/tmot1/spilputo.htm.

They're downright cute, but you wouldn't want to get too close. Their musk is more potent than the Striped Skunk's. Hard to believe! They do give adequate warning, though, when threatened. First, they rapidly stamp their front feet. If that doesn't deter you, they do a rapid series of handstands, balancing on their forelegs. Their next step is to drop back on all fours, twist themselves into a U-shape with the head and rear facing you. The final step: you guessed it: Pepe le Pew!

Spotted Skunks mate in March and April, and the female finds a rocky den or other snug spot for her family's home. Her gestation period is about 2 months. The number in a litter is usually 4 or 5, but she could have as many as 9. At birth, their skin already shows the pattern of black and white markings with fine hair. They're pretty precocious, being able to spray their musk when only 46 days old, before they're weaned. They reach maturity in about 10 months.

I'd give my eye teeth to see one, at a safe distance of course! Rugby’s Charles Gibbs saw one last year more than once at his bee hives at dusk. They're smaller and have shorter legs than the more common Striped Skunks, but just like the common skunks, the little Spotteds love to eat honeybees and other insects. Mice are their primary prey, but small reptiles, mammals, birds, bird eggs and amphibians are on their diet also, as well as apples and berries. Spotted Skunks can climb trees easily, scurrying up like a squirrel.

They aren't nearly as plentiful as they once were, so we usually just see the ordinary striped ones, but a survey last year in Royal Blue Wildlife Management Area near here showed that we still have the spotteds. They're considered somewhat rare and vulnerable. Spotted Skunks are critically endangered in some states, possibly because of roadkills and reduced habitat. Their preferred habitat is rocky mixed forest, and we certainly have plenty of that here. Because their fur is more dense and glossy than the Striped Skunks' and valued in the fur trade, it could be that in some areas they've been overtrapped.

 

This Week’s Editors: Rick Murphy and George Zepp