School video contest
KANNAPOLIS ó A.L. Brown High School in Kannapolis is vying for a chance to win a share of the $80,000 in cash prizes to be awarded to schools as part of the 2009 Lots2Give contest sponsored by Big Lots.
To enter the contest, schools had to submit a 90 second video and a 50-word essay on why their school could use some additional financial support. One $10,000 grand prize, three first prizes of $5,000 each, and 22 second prizes of $2,500 each, will be awarded.
Voting ends on July 12, at 11:59 p.m. Winners will be announced on Aug. 1.
There is a limit of three votes per person, per day.
The public is invited to view the videos and vote for their favorite at www.lots2give.com.
Death Under Cover
CHARLOTTE ó A cast of all Carolina actors will star in Charlotte Dinner Detective’s new show, “Death Under Cover.”
Among the cast members is Robyn Shute, a graduate of Catawba College’s theater arts department.
The debut performance will be Sunday, July 5, at 2 p.m., and then Friday and Saturday nights thereafter.
The show combines a three-course dinner with an interactive comedic homage to the classic detective movies of the ’20s, ’30s, and ’40s.
“Death Under Cover” is a revival of a World War II murder mystery set at the “Yanks Club,” a USO-like setting in London during the 1942 blitz.
Tickets are $69 dollars, and include dinner, show tax, parking and tips. They can be purchased by calling 704-840-5013. Advance reservations are required.’Digging History’
STATESVILLE ó The Fort Dobbs State Historic Site “Digging History” program gives students a chance to learn about how archaeological investigation is done and give them a deeper understanding of the history of the fort. It is offered throughout the year for registered groups. Led by Fort Dobbs Historic Interpreter Scott Douglas, this educational program is free and open to students age 6 and older.
Participants learn about archaeology and its importance to Fort Dobbs, which is located outside Statesville. They are introduced to the site’s history and past archaeological excavations by viewing exposed archaeological remnants, which will be explained in terms of their original use when the fort sheltered local settlers in the late 1700s.
Following this orientation, participants are able to participate in a miniature archaeological “dig.” Each team clears an area in the prepared “dig,” setting aside any pre-planted “artifacts” they may encounter. Fort Dobbs staff encourages participants to make written notes on each object, describing where it was found, what it appears to be made of, and what they believe the item is. At the end of the dig, the amateur archaeologists compare these notes with the found items to check the accuracy of their assessments.
For more information, visit www.fortdobbs.org or call 704-873-5882 or e-mail info@fortdobbs.org.
Carolina Artists Expo
Carolina Artists has announced that this year’s Expo will include a new category: three-dimensional works.
The categories are:
– Oil or acrylic on canvas, wood, Masonite or other panels;
– Photography;
– Other two dimensional works: pencil, pastel, pen and ink, charcoal, collage, etc.
– Three-dimensional works.
The deadline to submit the entry form is Aug. 7. Entries are to be delivered to the show site, the Salisbury Civic Center, between 10 a.m.-noon or 3-6 p.m. on Aug. 17.
The show will run Aug. 19-22, with a reception 6-8 p.m. on Aug. 20.
Artists must be at least 18. The artwork must have been done within the past three years and not shown in a previous Carolina Artists show.
Entry fee for up to five pieces is $25 for members and $35 for non-members. Up to three additional entries may be considered for $10 each. Guild memberships are available at delivery.
There are awards in each category of $200 for first place, $100 for second place, and $50 for third place. The art will also be made available for sale.
Information and entry forms are available at www.carolinaartist.com or by calling 704-797-0585.
Train excursions
SPENCER ó Tickets for the North Carolina Transportation Museum’s popular Fall Excursions are on sale.
The North Carolina Transportation Museum Foundation and the Watauga Valley Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society sponsor the trips.
Departing Spencer at 7 a.m., the Saturday, Oct. 31, “Virginia Autumn Special” will offer a second passenger pick-up at the Greensboro Amtrak Station at 8 a.m. Spectacular views of the Dan, Roanoke and James Rivers will be seen as the train crosses above. The train will even pass by Schuyler, the mountain town fictionalized in the television show “The Waltons.”
At noon, the train will arrive in Charlottesville, where travelers will have nearly three hours to explore the historic downtown area. The train will arrive back in Greensboro at 6:45 p.m. and Spencer at 8 p.m.
During a Sunday, Nov. 1 trip, the “Blue Ridge Special” will travel through the western Piedmont into the foothills and on to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Departing Spencer at 7 a.m., the train will roll through the cities of Statesville, Hickory, Morganton, Marion, Black Mountain and Swannanoa.
The train will climb the famed “loops” of the Blue Ridge Mountains and pass through several tunnels before arriving in Asheville at noon. Passengers will have nearly three hours for an outing at Biltmore Village, returning to Spencer at 8 p.m.
Tickets range from $140 to $275 per person.
A new offering this year, Deluxe Coach Class tickets, feature spacious seating with large windows, lunch on the dining car and light snacks during the trip. Deluxe Coach tickets are $170 per person.
Coach tickets feature comfortable seating, air conditioning and heat and restrooms. Coach tickets are $140 per person.
Another new feature, an optional box lunch will allow travelers to save time for shopping in Charlottesville or Asheville. The $14 box lunch, is served in a souvenir lunch tote. Passengers may also take advantage of a shuttle bus at each destination for an additional $2.
Tickets are available online at www.nctrans.org or by calling 704-636-2889.