Smoky Mountains Around Town / January 2014 by Smoky Mountains Around Town

Smoky Mountains

Around Town What To See And Where To Be In The Smokies !

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January 2014 Issue

Gatlinburg New Year's Eve Ball Drop And Fireworks Show Gatlinburg will welcome the arrival of 2014 in unique style with its 26th Annual New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and Fireworks Show around the intersection of Parkway and Historic Nature Trail at the base of the Space Needle late Tuesday night, December 31.

Auto Touring

Great Smoky Mountains National Park encompasses over 800 square miles and is one of the most pristine natural areas in the East. An auto tour of the park offers a variety of experiences, including panoramic views, tumbling mountain streams, weathered historic buildings, and mature hardwood forests stretching to the horizon.

At the stroke of midnight on January 1, 2014, the Space Needle area will shine with a red glow from the surrounding rooftops at the beginning of a music program which includes selected songs followed by a choreographed ﬁreworks show produced by Pyro-Shows of LaFollette, Tennessee. Leading up to midnight, popular musical entertainment will be headquartered on the balcony of the Gatlinburg Convention Center at the Historic Nature Trail/Airport Road entrance. Party favors provided by Mr. Tablecloth will be available near the base of the Space Needle on Historic Nature Trail. “It has become a tradition for families and friends from across America to come back to celebrate the New Year here in Gatlinburg,” said George Hawkins, Special Events Manager. “We expect to have another big crowd to help us usher in 2014 with their loved ones and friends.” The highlight of the evening is the ball drop from the Space Needle, signifying the old year is over and a new one has begun. Then music encouraging crowd participation and the ﬁreworks show off the 342-foot structure will welcome the New Year in dazzling style.

There are 384 miles of road to choose from in the Smokies. Most are paved, and even the gravel roads are maintained in suitable condition for standard passenger cars. Travel speeds on most of the park's paved roads average 35 miles per hour. Inexpensive booklets are available to serve as your personal tour guides along many park roads. These booklets are keyed to numbered posts or landmarks and include information on park history, wildlife, and plants. Booklets are available for Cades Cove Loop Road, Cataloochee Valley, Newfound Gap Road, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail and Upper The entire city of Gatlinburg celebrates New Year’s Eve in a Tremont Road. big way with many restaurants and attractions offering special celebrations. Popular hotspots are right in the middle of the In addition, the book Smokies Road Guide covers main thoroughfares and ﬁreworks area below the Space Needle and offer varying scenic backroads in the park. This book and the self-guiding auto tour packages which may include music, buffets and a champagne booklets listed above are available at park visitor centers and online. Selfguiding tour booklets are also available from dispensers at the start of the toast. roads they cover. For information on other New Year’s Eve parties and Please check for seasonal and weather-related road closures before activities as well as lodging and dining options, please call the planning an auto tour. Gatlinburg Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800/588-1817. Beating the Crowds Great Smoky Mountains National Park is America's most visited national park. Times when visitation is highest are July 1-August 15 and the month of October (especially October weekends). During these times, trafﬁc may become congested, especially on the Newfound Gap and Cades Cove Loop roads. Fortunately, lesser-used roads and off-the-beaten path destinations are scattered throughout the park. Anytime you want to escape snowmakers love manipulating high pressure nozzles the crowds, try one of these alternatives:

Ober Gatlinburg Snowmaking

and hoses to assure guests the ﬁnest slope conditions.

Foothills Parkway East or West Blue Ridge Parkway Once snowmaking weather is favorable, we will start It often becomes necessary to make snow during Rich Mountain Road* skiing/snowboarding sessions. Here are a few tips for *motorists must travel part of the busy Cades Cove Loop Road to access this onemaking snow on the slopes in the following order:

skiing/snowboarding during snowmaking:

1. Castle Run, Cub Way and Ski School 2. Mogul Ridge and Upper Bear Run 3. Lower Bear Run and Ober Chute 4. Alpine Way 5. Grizzly

Dress properly for the weather. Generally it is 32 degrees In summer, motorists can also avoid the crowds by traveling before 10:00 Fahrenheit or below during snowmaking operation. a.m. in the morning or after 5:00 p.m. in the evening. During October, • Wear goggles to protect your eyes from precipitation (natural or machine made) and sunlight. • A scarf or some other form of face protection may be helpful. • Avoid skiing/snowboarding too close to the snow guns. •The snow farther away from the snow gun is often better. •Ski/snowboard with caution whenever visibility becomes poor. • Always check out the Slope Report before coming to check on snow making status. Temperature Inversion To invert something is to turn it upside down from its normal condition. When we talk about temperature inversion, we are speaking about an atmospheric condition that is upside down from the way things normally are.

Note: We will not start making snow on the next slopes until In a "normal" atmosphere, the temperature decreases the we have a substantial base built up on the current open farther up you go from earth's surface. The sun heats the slopes, and have favorable weather forecasted.

Cold Temperatures 32 degrees is the temperature at which water crystallizes, but in most cases, it's not cold enough for efﬁcient and productive snowmaking. Generally, temperatures must drop below 28 degrees Fahrenheit before snowmaking can begin. We will make snow at temperatures at or below 28 degrees "wet bulb" but we prefer lower temperatures. Wet Bulb is a temperature measurement that takes into account both the ambient air temperature and the relative humidity, another key snowmaking factor.

ground during the day, creating a warm layer of air near the ground. As the warm air rises, it cools. Sometimes, a layer of air is so cold and dense that it resists the warming effect of the sun and hugs the ground while less dense air above it warms at a faster rate.

Temperature inversions are common in cities located in mountain valleys or nestled up against a mountain range. Cold air sinks to the valley ﬂoor or base of the mountains and becomes trapped there, a process known as "cold air damming". This is the most common type of inversion that occurs at Ober Gatlinburg. The result is a valley temperature that can be below freezing while temps on the mountain are well above freezing. Needless to say, Humidity Humidity plays a major role in determining when snowmaking is almost impossible during a temperature snowmaking can begin. At higher humidity levels, the inversion. This is why we attempt to make snow at every process is hampered, because the air is already saturated opportunity when temperatures permit. with water molecules. The drier the air, the better the snowmaking conditions and the higher the quality of snow that can be produced. Low humidity, combined with cold air, allow our snowguns to shoot out beautiful, ﬂuffy white snow! The degree of humidity is so critical, in fact, that when the temperature approaches 30 degrees, it is the humidity level, not the temperature, that dictates whether or not we can continue to make snow! Our Snowmaking Crew - 24 Hours A Day Throughout the winter months, our snowmakers are on standby, waiting for cold temperatures. When the weather looks right, they gear up and head out onto the mountain to make snow. Snowmaking is often a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week enterprise when it's cold. Many times they miss Christmas and other holidays as they are out on the hill making snow. It's a cold, wet job, but our

way backroad (closed in winter).

trafﬁc is heaviest during the afternoons and evenings.

Did You Know Money to buy the land that became Great Smoky Mountains National Park was raised by individuals, private groups, and even school children who pledged their pennies. In addition, the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial Fund donated $5 million to create the park.

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Page 2 Around Town

Black Bears

Warning: Bears are wild animals that are dangerous and unpredictable. Do not approach bears or allow them to approach you! Do not feed bears! Willfully approaching within 50 yards (150 feet), or any distance that disturbs or displaces a bear, is illegal in the park. Violation of this federal regulation can result in ﬁnes and arrest. Use binoculars, telephoto lens, or a spotting scope to view the animals.

look as large as possible (for example, move to higher ground). Throw non-food objects such as rocks at the bear. Use a deterrent such as a stout stick. Don't run and don't turn away from the bear. Don't leave food for the bear; this encourages further problems. Most injuries from black bear attacks are minor and result from a bear attempting to get at people's food. If the bear's behavior indicates that it is after your food and you're physically attacked, separate yourself from the food and slowly back away.

Wildlife managers actively monitor for bear activity and use innovative and proactive techniques to keep bears shy, secretive, and afraid of people. This approach allows bears to remain in their home range, and discourages them from visiting developed areas or approaching people. Results of these efforts are very encouraging. In some areas the number of bears that have to be trapped and moved away has decreased by 10 fold!

If the bear shows no interest in your food and you're physically attacked, fight back aggressively with any available object--the bear may consider you as prey! Help protect others, report all bear incidents to a park ranger immediately. Above all, keep your distance from bears! Garbage Kills Bears! The bear's keen sense of smell leads it to insects, nuts and berries, but the animal is also enticed by the tantalizing smells of human food and garbage such as hot dogs, apple cores, chips, and watermelon rinds left on the ground in picnic areas, campgrounds, and along trails. Feeding bears or allowing them access to human food and garbage causes a number of problems: Attacks on humans are rare. If you are physically attacked by a black bear, fight back aggressively with any available object--the bear may consider you as prey! Do not play dead, report all bear incidents to a park ranger immediately. Keep your distance from bears. Gary Carter Photo Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the largest protected areas in the eastern United States where black bears can live in wild, natural surroundings. Bears inhabit all elevations of the park. Though populations are variable, biologists estimate that roughly 1,500 bears live in the park. This equals a population density of approximately two bears per square mile. At one time, the black bear's range included most of North America except the extreme west coast. However loss of habitat has resulted in a significant reduction in this range. Black bears in the Smokies are black in color, but in other parts of the country they may be brown or cinnamon. They may be six feet in length and up to three feet high at the shoulder. During the summer months, a typical adult male bear weighs approximately 250 pounds while adult females are generally smaller and weigh slightly over 100 pounds. However, bears may double their weight by the fall. Bears over 600 pounds have been documented in the park. Bears can live 12-15 years or more, however bears which have had access to human foods and garbage have a life expectancy of only half that time.

It changes the bear's behavior and causes them to lose their instinctive fear of humans. Over time, these bears may begin approaching people in search of food and may become more unpredictable and dangerous. Bears that obtain human food and garbage damage property and injure people. These bears pose a risk to public safety. They can also teach other bears this dangerous behavior. Often, they must be euthanized. Studies have shown that bears that lose their fear of people by obtaining human food and garbage never live as long as bears that feed on natural foods and are shy and afraid of people. Many are hit by cars and become easy targets for poachers. For these reasons, park rangers issue citations for littering, feeding bears, and for improper food storage. These citations can result in ﬁnes of up to $5,000 and jail sentences lasting up to six months. Visitors are urged to view all wildlife at a safe distance and to never throw food or garbage on the ground or leave it unattended. Garbage Kills Bears!

Bears, like humans, are omnivores. Plant materials such as berries and nuts make up approximately 85% of their diet. Insects and animal carrion provide valuable sources of protein for bears.

Help keep the park's bears wild. Do not feed bears. Remember, a fed bear is a dead bear! Gary Carter Photo

Bears have color vision and a keen sense of smell. In addition, they are good tree climbers, can swim very well, and can run 30 miles per hour.

What Can You Do To Protect Bears?

Bear Behavior Bears are most active during early morning and late evening hours in spring and summer. Mating usually takes place in July. Both female and male bears may have more than one mate during the summer. Bears choose a denning site with the coming of cold weather. Dens are usually hollow stumps, tree cavities, or wherever there is shelter. Bears in the Smokies are unusual in that they often den high above the ground in standing hollow trees. Bears do not truly hibernate, but enter long periods of sleep. They may leave the den for short periods if disturbed or during brief warming trends. One to four cubs are born during the mother's winter sleep, usually in late January or early February. Bears weigh eight ounces at birth. Females with newly born cubs usually emerge from their winter dens in late March or early April. Commonly born in pairs, the cubs will remain with the mother for about eighteen months or until she mates again. What do I do if I See a Bear? Bears in the park are wild and their behavior is sometimes unpredictable. Although extremely rare, attacks on humans have occurred, inﬂicting serious injuries and death. Treat bear encounters with extreme caution and follow these guidelines: If you see a bear remain watchful. Do not approach it. If your presence causes the bear to change its behavior (stops feeding, changes its travel direction, watches you, etc.)-you're too close. Being too close may promote aggressive behavior from the bear such as running toward you, making loud noises, or swatting the ground. The bear is demanding more space. Don't run, but slowly back away, watching the bear. Try to increase the distance between you and the bear. The bear will probably do the same. If a bear persistently follows or approaches you, without vocalizing, or paw swatting, change your direction. If the bear continues to follow you, stand your ground. If the bear gets closer, talk loudly or shout at it. Act aggressively to intimidate the bear. Act together as a group if you have companions. Make yourselves

The park has replaced garbage cans with bear proof dumpsters to prevent bears from gaining access to garbage. NPS Photo Bear Management Bear management is really people management. How visitors behave while in the park has an impact on the safety of bears. If you are careless with your food or litter, YOU may be responsible for a bear's death! Park staff has done many things to make it easier for you to protect bears. Bear proof dumpsters or trash cans can be found in all campgrounds and picnic areas. Please use them to dispose of garbage. During summer months, some of the busiest picnic areas close at 8:00 PM so these areas can be thoroughly cleaned before dark and any food scraps or trash left by careless visitors can be removed. Park rangers patrol picnic areas and campgrounds to enforce evening closures, littering and food storage regulations. They also strictly enforce regulations that prohibit approaching, harassing, disturbing or feeding bears. An army of park volunteers patrol the park's most popular trails, picnic areas, and campgrounds to educate visitors about protecting bears. They conﬁscate unattended food or coolers and clean up food scraps left behind by careless visitors. These volunteers also assist in managing people during roadside bear jams. In the backcountry, food storage cables have been installed to make it easier for backpackers to hang their food and garbage so that bears cannot get to it. At some campsites, telephone poles were ﬂown into remote backcountry areas because the trees around the campsites were too small to set up an effective cable system! The park's Resource Education staff provides information about bears at visitor centers, in the park's newspaper, and at evening programs. Educational signs about bears can be found on picnic tables throughout the park and bear safety videos are available.

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• Dispose of all garbage or food scraps in bear proof garbage containers or take it with you. • Do not feed wildlife. Feeding a bear guarantees its demise! • Do not approach within 50 yards or any distance that disturbs a bear. • Do not allow bears to approach you (See "What Do I Do If I See A Bear?" above). • Use the food storage cables to store your food and garbage when camping in the backcountry. • If you see another visitor breaking these rules, or encounter a bear in a picnic area or campground, on a trail, or in any other developed area, please call (865) 436-1230 or stop at a Visitor Center to report it. Other Threats to Bears Non-Native Species: The European wild hog is one of the most direct threats to the black bear. These pervasive intruders feed on the acorns and other foods that are mainstays of bear diets. Another non-native species, the gypsy moth, is expanding its range toward the park. This insect defoliates oak trees, weakening them and leaving them susceptible to other insects and diseases which my kill the trees. Not only could bear's food source of acorns be affected, but some of the prime denning spots in old growth trees may be lost. Poaching: Unfortunately, the lure of high proﬁts on international markets encourages the poaching of black bears. Several cultures believe that bear gall bladders, paws, and claws have medicinal powers or consider them gourmet delicacies. Urban Encroachment: Community and private developments near park boundaries are causing a loss in habitat for the bears. Poaching activities can be somewhat curtailed, and bear populations can eventually rebound from the losses. But once the critical habitats are destroyed, major declines in bear populations are inevitable. Bears that venture outside park boundaries into neighboring communities may encounter human food and become unpredictable, dangerous, and a threat to human safety.

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Around Town

Page 3

Around the Smokies

Water Quality

The cool, clear waters in Great Smoky Mountains National Park's streams appear to be pristine. But are they? Water quality affects many aquatic animals found in the Great Smoky Mountains, such as brook trout, salamanders and frogs. It can also affect non-aquatic species, such as birds who ﬁnd their source of food in park streams. Since 1991, scientists in the park have been collecting bi-monthly water samples to evaluate water temperature, the amount of dissolved oxygen and which metals and chemicals are dissolved in park waters, the acidity of the water and how well the water can resist changes in acidity (pH) levels.

Check your city and state regulations on water quality and what you can do to help improve water quality.

standards. All streams in the park are more acidic than they were 20 years ago. Although the air quality of the park is improving, it will take over 30 years for the water quality to improve. Park soils hold chemicals and gases accumulated from years of acid deposition and will continue to release these stored elements into the surrounding rivers and streams for many years to come, causing further deterioration of the water quality.

Longest ZipLine In the Smokies

When a stream has a pH level below 6.0, the stream is less able to support sensitive aquatic species such as brook trout, mayﬂies, caddisﬂies and salamanders. In fact, acidic streams are suspected to be the main cause for the decline of the native brook trout population in the park. Gills and reproduction systems in aquatic species are damaged by the acidic water. Acidity also affects amphibian populations because their skin is very sensitive to the water pollutants. Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen in Streams

The temperature of water has a large inﬂuence on aquatic animal, insect and plant species because it determines the types of species that can survive in the stream. Each species has a speciﬁc water temperature range in which they can survive.

NPS Photo Air Quality, Acid Rain and Excessive Nitrogen

The park's water quality is directly affected by the park's air quality. Pollutants, like sulfate nitrate and mercury, from urban and industrial sites and power plants can be found in the park's air. These pollutants are deposited on leaves, soil and other surfaces within the park, and then are washed into park streams during rainstorms. In fact, the equivalent of 200 train cars of sulfuric acid falls over park surfaces each year! Acid rain, also called acid deposition, is rainfall that has been mixed with chemicals and gases to become more acidic than normal. The main gas contributors to acid rain are sulfuric acid (produced by coal burning industries) and nitric acid or nitrogen (produced by automobiles). Acid rain can leach elements found in the soil, such as nitrogen, into the water causing the stream to become more acidic. Acidity Level in Streams

The acidity (pH) level in streams is very important when determining water quality. The acidity of water is measured using the pH system, which ranges from 0-14, with 7 being "neutral." The lower the numbers are, the more acidic the stream is. Knowing the pH level in streams helps scientists to determine the amount of nutrients that can be dissolved in the water and the amount of nutrients that can be used as food by aquatic species. A lower pH level, meaning the stream is more acidic than normal, can also cause metals to leach out of the soil, making the stream toxic to the animal species found there. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has listed 41 miles of park streams as having a very low pH level (very acidic) and consider them to be impaired. An impaired stream means that the stream is polluted and has failed state water

Smoky Mountain Weather

The Look Rock webcam on the western edge of the park captured a photo of a lightning strike during a spring storm. Severe storms, including tornados, occur in the park, especially during spring and summer. Current weather forecasts for the park are available by phone at (865) 436-1200 extension 630 or online from the National Weather Service. Elevations in the park range from approximately 875 feet to

Temperature also affects the amount of dissolved oxygen held in a stream. Warm water holds less dissolved oxygen than cool water does, and may not contain the amount of dissolved oxygen that a species needs to survive. Park streams are currently cold and fast moving with a lot of dissolved oxygen, but this may change in the future due to rising air temperatures and continuing acid deposition.

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National Park Service Position

The National Park Service and the U.S. Geological Survey initiated a water quality program with support from the Clean Water Action Plan in 1998. The goal of the partnership is to develop information on park water quality to enable the National Park Service to address its most critical water quality management responsibilities.

What You Can Do • Compost your yard waste and food waste into gardening soil • Use environmentally friendly and biodegradable household cleaners instead of chemically based cleaners • Clean up after your pet and throw away waste in the trash can • NEVER dump anything down storm drains. Take all chemicals and wastes to designated hazardous waste disposal sites • Wash your car to a commercial car wash instead of washing it in the driveway. Washing your car at home drains used water and chemicals to drain directly into the storm drain. At a commercial car wash, the used water is drained into a sewer system to be treated. • Check for and ﬁx oil leaks in mechanical equipment. • Minimize your use of fertilizer and sweep up driveways, sidewalks and roads.

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6,643 feet and the topography can drastically affect local weather. Temperatures can vary 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit from mountain base to top, and clear skies lower down do not guarantee equally pleasant weather at higher elevations. Rainfall averages 55 inches per year in the lowlands to 85 inches per year at Clingmans Dome. Some prior planning and weather-wise clothing will help ensure an enjoyable visit during any season.

Temperatures increase through the period with July and August afternoon highs in the 90s in the lower elevations. Evening lows are usually comfortable with readings in the 60s and 70s. In the higher elevations, the weather is much more pleasant. On Mount Le Conte (6,593' elevation), temperatures above 80 degrees are extremely rare.

Spring

September through mid-November: Clear skies and cooler weather signal the onset of the fall color season. Warm days alternate with cool nights. Daytime highs are usually in the 70s and 80s during September, falling to the 50s and 60s in early November. The ﬁrst frosts often occur in late September. By November, the lows are usually near freezing. This is the driest period of the year with only occasional rain showers. In the higher elevations, snow is a possibility by November.

Autumn

March through May: Spring brings with it unpredictable weather. Changes occur rapidly - sunny skies can yield to snow ﬂurries in a few hours. March is the month with the most radical changes; snow can fall at any time during the month, particularly in the higher elevations. Temperatures in the lower elevations have a mean high of 61ºF. Low temperatures, which are often below freezing, have a mean of 42ºF. By mid-April the weather is usually milder. Daytime temperatures often reach the 70s and occasionally the 80s. Below freezing temperatures at night are uncommon in the lower elevations but still occur higher up. April averages over four inches of rain, usually in the form of afternoon showers. May iswarmer, with daytime highs in the 70s and 80s and lows in the 40s and 50s. May rainfall averages about 4.5 inches.

Winter Mid-November through February: Winter in the Smokies is generally moderate, but extremes in weather do occur, especially with an increase in elevation. It is not unusual to have warm temperatures in the low elevations and snow in the higher areas. About half the days in the winter have high temperatures of 50 degrees or more. Highs occasionally even reach the 70s. Most nights have lows at or below freezing. But lows of -20°F. are possible at high elevations. Low elevations, snows of 1" or more occur 1-5 times a year. Snow falls more frequently in the higher mountains and up to two feet can fall during a storm. January and February one is most likely to ﬁnd snow in the mountains.

Summer June through August: Summer in the Smokies means heat, haze, and humidity. Afternoon showers and thunderstorms are common.

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Page 4 Around Town

Tales from the Titanic Titanic Pigeon Forge Lands Exhibition Rights to Privately Held “Unsinkable Molly Brown” personal artifact collection New Gallery to Open - Friday, January 17, 2014 She inspired movies, books, an opera, a Broadway musical and on Friday, January 17, 2014, the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee will add a new dimension to the unsinkable, Margaret “Unsinkable Molly” Brown legacy with the opening of an exclusive new gallery dedicated to this amazing woman, announces Titanic explorer and co-owner of the Titanic Museum Attraction, John Joslyn. “For all that has been said, shown and written about this bigger-than-life personality, nothing can compare to what our guests will experience when they see her real story come to life through personal belongings, private papers and cherished possessions,” say Joslyn. “It's the only place in the world where you can see them,” he adds. “Today, Margaret Tobin Brown is just as unforgettable as she was unsinkable, 102 years ago. I think she would be pleased to know that new generations of visitors to the museum will be inspired by the adventures of that little girl from Hannibal, Missouri who overcame poverty, struck it rich with her husband in Colorado and became a legend in her own lifetime,” Joslyn continued.

Father Francis Browne When the famous ship hit the infamous iceberg nearly 100 years ago on April 15, 1912, the Titanic didn’t just send hundreds of its passengers to the bottom of the oceanit also took all the evidence of what life was like on board for the ill-fated travelers.Or at least it would have, were it not for Francis Browne. Browne was an Irish Jesuit priest who sailed with the ship for the ﬁrst leg of its journey, from Southampton, England, to

Titanic Museum Attraction: Cedar Bay Entertainment, LLC owns and operates the Titanic Museum Attractions in Branson, Missouri, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. A privately owned-and-operated entertainment and development company, Cedar Bay is headquartered in Branson, Missouri, the site of its ﬁrst Titanic Museum Attraction. Since its opening in 2006, Titanic Branson has welcomed more than 5.5 million “passengers” aboard the museum. Titanic Pigeon Forge opened in 2010 and has already welcomed 2.5 million visitors. Named Winner of the 2012 TripAdvisor Certiﬁcate of Excellence, “The Titanic Museum is not to be missed” declares USA Today. For additional information about the museums visit www.titanicattraction.com or call (800) 381-7670

Browne’s Titanic Album, which has been re-released in honor of the shipwreck’s centenary. Although the camera was his hobby rather than his calling, Browne’s photographs of the Titanic are valuable for more than their content. He is now considered a serious photographer and his work is in the collection of the Irish Picture Library. And Victoria Bridgeman, CEO of Bridgeman Art Library, the ﬁrm that represents the images for licensing purposes, notes that the images are also valuable as embodiments of the age in which they were taken. “They have a fantastic of-the-moment archival quality to them,” she says. “It’s always so exciting when you ﬁnd something that is totally of its time.” “There’s something particularly moving about the collection,” says Bridgeman, recalling how close the images—and their creator—came to going down with the ship, “especially from the perspective of the man who took them.”

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Mrs. Benziger is scheduled to make a rare, two-day appearance at the museum attraction on Valentine's Day weekend, Friday, February 14 – Saturday February 15th. All museum attraction visitors will have a chance to meet her and hear her separate fact from ﬁction in the life of her Molly Brown famed ancestor.

Cobh, Ireland, then called Queenstown. And he would have stayed for the remainder of the transatlantic journey, too, having received an offer of a ticket from a wealthy family he befriended while on board. When Browne reached Cobh, however, he received a note from his clerical superior, ordering him to return to his station immediately rather than sail on. Browne disembarked. An enthusiastic amateur photographer (who had received his ﬁrst camera from the same uncle who later bought him his ticket for the Titanic trip), he brought with him the only photos of the Titanic at sea that would survive the shipwreck. After his near miss, throughout his life as a clergyman, Browne delivered Titanicthemed talks and continued to snap away. His photographs were lost after his death in 1960 and rediscovered by a different priest, Eddie O’Donnell, 25 years later. Among the 42,000-odd negatives, there were more than 100 images of the Titanic. O’Donnell edited the images for a book, Father

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Jim Woods, owner of Discount Cigarettes and Beer in the Family Dollar shopping center at Glades road is announcing plans to introduce a full line of E-cigs and paraphernalia to his shop.

E-Cig (electronic cigarette) is a battery powered nicotine delivery system (ENDS) which simulates tobacco smoking. It generally uses a heating element that vaporizes a liquid solution. Some solutions contain a mixture of nicotine and ﬂavorings while others release a ﬂavoured vapor without nicotine. Some are designed in appearance to look like cigarettes while others are considerably different in appearance. Because E-Cigs contain nicotine minors will not be permitted to purchase them.

Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community

Come and see artisans at work !

The Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community is the largest group of independent artisans in North America with over 100 artisans. Established in 1937 this 8 mile loop weaves through Gatlinburg Tennessee. These craftsmen and artisans weave, carve, cast, sew, paint and whittle to create a vast variety of collectibles such as jewelry, ceramics, dolls, pottery, quilts, brooms, baskets, candles, leather, silver smithing, wearable fashions, artistic photography, oils and watercolor paintings, stained glass and so much more. The area also has numerous restaurants, and cafés, candy shops, soda fountains, tea rooms and lodging.

You'll discover one-of-a-kind crafts, treasures and artwork, and you can watch the artisans at work. Stop along the way and chat with a painter or potter, or let a broom maker show you how it's done. This a great experience for the entire family or just the two of you. There's plenty of free parking at each shop throughout the trail loop. Ride the "Craft Trolley" if you'd like to see it all without the hassles of driving, a one-fare trip will provide a great way to see everything getting on and off as often as you like. Either way you travel you won't be disappointed, you'll see history in the making and it's the real thing! Turn at trafﬁc light #3 in downtown Gatlinburg on highway 321 and go three miles. You can visit our website at www.gatlinburgcrafts.com.

This sign at Route 321 and Glades Road is a landmark to the Arts & Crafts Community

Around Town

Page 5

Smoky Mountains Songwriters Festival By Cyndy Montgomery Reeves “Celebrating our Appalachian Musical Roots” Talent abounds in the Smoky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountain Range. Sevier County takes great pride in being the hometown of one of the world's greatest songwriters, Dolly Parton. Appalachian roots have remained central to the image and identity of many performers such as Dolly, Loretta Lynn, Roy Acuff, Bill Monroe, Tammy Wynette, Patsy Cline, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Archie Campbell, Chet Atkins, Lester Flatts, Earl Scruggs, Kenny Chesney, Ashley Monroe, Band Perry to name a few. Talent still flourishes in the Smoky Mountains.You will find Heather Maples along with Taylor Brooks, Mark Meyer and Mark Akers performing in Gatlinburg in a group called BAMM! The talent this group has assembled is absolutely incredible. For BAMM! schedule go to www.BAMMband.com. Heather's roots run deep in Appalachian soil. She's a Gatlinburg native and 8th generation descendant of Martha Jane Huskey and William Ogle, the first settlers in Gatlinburg. Early in her career Heather secured a spot at the historic Tootsies Orchid Lounge in Nashville where she and her band performed with a number of Opry Stars including Little Jimmy Dickens, Br548, Lynn Anderson, The Bellemy Brothers and Roy Clark to name a few. Heather has headlined several regional music festivals like the Bowling Green Harley Davidson Shoot-Out, Lenoir City Fall Festival, Clarksville Riverfest, and performed at Legend's Corner Lounge, Nashville Fan Fair, and the Nashville Women's Expo. Her album “Comfortably Lonely” produced by Richie Owens,

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has two songs Dolly wrote that Dolly never released herself, but gave Heather the right to cut. “One Out of Two” is her own album which she independently produced herself. Taylor Brooks has written songs recorded and performed by the legendary Ray Charles, Narada Michael Walden, John Legend, The Temptations, Steve Winwood and En Vogue. With songs on an RIAA Platinum release that debuted at #10 on the Billboard charts to two Grammy-nominated and one Grammy-winning album by the Temptations, her music has reached millions. Her lyrics appear on two new songs on Narada Michael Walden's latest release, Thunder 2013. Taylor is not a newcomer to Gatlinburg. Her dad, Skip Brooks, was a member of the famed Town Criers, a great group of musicians who had the nightly gig at Homespun Valley and late nights at the Red Coach during the 60s and 70s in downtown Gatlinburg. Taylor's mom, JoAnn Brooks founded Gatlinburg's ﬁrst leather shop called The Leathersmiths.

BAMM! will perform in this year's Smoky Mountains Songwriters Festival Aug. 21-24, 2014 in downtown Gatlinburg. www.smswf.com. Gatlinburg restaurants offering live entertainment: Crystelle Creek Restaurant, Smoky Mountain Brewery, Loco Burros, Hardrock Café, Three Jimmy's, Hogg's & Honey and Hogg's Pub & Grub. Every 2nd Monday SMSWF Songwriters Showcase at Crystelle Creek Restaurant and Grill, Gatlinburg, TN. For more info: 865-604-9066 or smswf@yahoo.com.

Mark Meyer needs no introduction. Just mention his name and watch everyone smile. Mark is a master musician. Wait till you hear his ﬁngers run the keyboard. Mark's repertoire includes a large collection of turn of the century Ragtime by Scott Joplin, Eubie Blake and Joseph Lamb. Mark was the musical director & pianist for Billy Bakers' Elwood Smoochs' Ole Smoky Hoedown, piano player Dixie Stampede Saloon, Regas Restaurant, Maxwell's Restaurant, Copper Cellar, Swanks Jazz Club at The Hyatt Regency Knoxville, Royal Oaks Country Club in Maryville, Knoxville Jazz Society and KSO league. Mark Akers, professional instrumental musician, technical director/designer producing musical and video projects all over the country will be performing with BAMM! when not on tour with The Kingdom Heirs.

BAMM!

Fireside Puzzle

Towel off A great lake Wallop Cable channel Inhabitant of Brittay Ready to pluck Famous cookie Progressive rock band Finger or toe U.N. agency Building near a silo Entree add-on Spring ﬂowers Condo division Add up Small Old World deer Split Glistening Word with ﬂy or radish Spiel Gambler Defraud Set up Where to get a fast buck? Pine Honk Late starter Deviate Slim girl Beat Granite colored The rich Like some coffee Braces Indian princess Black-and-white predator Small stream Highland tongue “__ we forget” Spot Latin 101 verb Snack “Ve__ in blue jeans...”

ACROSS 1 Direction 5 Petting zoo sound 9 First come, ﬁrst served 13 Unyielding 14 It may be organized 15 Healthful berry 16 Vacation message 19 Fox Series, “___! The Cat” 20 Jottings 21 Make up for 22 Last word of a US island 23 Type of wood 24 Place for target practice 32 Traditional beliefs 33 Delicate 34 Mass of eggs 35 Timeline divisions 36 Coax 38 Hindu sacred texts 39 Best guess: abbr. 40 Not all 41 Box elder 42 “Calm down!” 47 Final: abbr. 48 Delicate 49 Clobber 52 Bob’s companion 54 Jeans brand 57 Just good old friendship 60 First word in a fairy tale 61 Chuckleheads 62 FedEx rival 63 Granitelike rocks 64 Unnamed ones 65 Eye problem

Answers on page 8 1

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Lo Lo

Come Celebrate New Year’s Eve With Us!

(865) 436-5161 Located in the River Terrace Resort & Convention Center 240 River Road, Gatlinburg

Proudly the largest liquor store and selection in Sevier County since 1983. Epi’s Fine Wines & Spirits of Gatlinburg, TN offers a huge selection of liquor, spirits, high-gravity beer and wines from local and around the world. We have convenient, unlimited and free parking. www.episliquor.com

At trafﬁc light #3 in Gatlinburg turn onto Rt. 321. Go 2.7 miles and we’re on the left.

1359 E. Parkway, Gatlinburg • 865-436-5287

Page 6 Around Town

Geology of the Smokies Most of the rocks in Great Smoky Mountains National Park are sedimentary and were formed by accumulations of clay, silt, sand, gravel, and minor amounts of calcium carbonate in ﬂat-lying layers. The oldest sedimentary rocks were formed during the Proterozoic Era some 800545 million years ago. Vast amounts of unconsolidated clay, silt, sand, and pebbles were washed down into lowland basins from adjacent highlands. Rocks of the old highlands were over one billion years old, and were similar to the ancient granite and gneiss found in the southeastern parts of the park. These early sites of ocean bottom deposition were formed along the ancient margin of the North American continent as an older and larger supercontinent broke apart. As more and more of these sediments were deposited, they were eventually cemented together and changed into layers of rock over nine miles thick. Today these rocks are known as the Ocoee Supergroup and are subdivided into many smaller divisions of differing rock types. The different rock types reﬂect the range of climatic and topographic conditions that existed during their formation. The younger rocks of sedimentary origin formed during the Paleozoic Era, 450 to about 545 million years ago. They consist of compacted and cemented sand, silt, and clay deposited in an ancient shallow marine continental margin that existed in what is now the Appalachian region. Burrows and trails of worms, as well as small shells of crustaceans that lived in this shallow water along the ancient continental edge are found in sandstone and shale in the northwestern part of the park. Fossils found in limestone rocks in Cades Cove are about 450 million years old. Mountain Building Between about 310 and 245 million years ago, the eastern edge of the North American tectonic plate collided with the African tectonic plate becoming part of a "supercontinent" known as Pangaea. Continental collisions take place at a rate of a few inches per year over many millions of years and are the result of continuing global-scale plate tectonics. Evidence of earlier plate tectonic geologic events are found in rocks of the Great Smoky Mountains, attesting to an incredibly long and active geologic history in this area. During one of these earlier continental collisions, tremendous pressures and heat were generated, which changed or "metamorphosed" the Smokies sedimentary rocks. For example, sandstone became recrystallized to metasandstone or quartzite, and shale became slate. The last great episode of mountain building uplifted the entire Appalachian mountain chain from Newfound-land, Canada to Alabama. These mountains probably were much higher than today, with elevations similar to today's

Rockies. As the African tectonic plate gradually pushed against the edge of the North American plate, the original horizontal layers of the rocks were bent or folded and broken by faults. Huge masses of older, deeply buried rocks were pushed northwestward, up and over younger rocks along a large, nearly flat-lying thrust fault, known as the Great Smoky Fault. Following this final episode of Appalachian mountain building, the supercontinent of Pangaea broke apart, and the North American and African tectonic plates gradually moved to their present position. The new rugged highlands, the ancient ancestors of the Smokies, were subjected to intense erosion from ice, wind, and water. As mountain valleys were carved, tremendous quantities of eroded sediment were transported toward the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico by rivers and streams. Some of these sediments formed our Gulf of Mexico beaches. As the mountains were worn down, the layers of rock most resistant to erosion were left to form the highest peaks in the Smokies, such as the hard metasandstone on top of Clingmans Dome. Most of the beautiful waterfalls in the park were formed where downcutting streams encountered ledges of very resistant metasandstone that erodes more slowly than the adjacent slate or metasiltstone. Today, geologists estimate that the mountains are being eroded about two inches every thousand years. Plate Tectonics The earth's outer crust is composed of huge, continentalsize plates, driven by heat from below, that continually shift position. These moving plates grind past one another, collide into one another, and sometimes override one another. Also, where plate margins are separating or spreading apart, molten rock forces its way to the surface, solidifies and forms new crust. Plate movement is just a few inches a year, but throughout geologic time, this movement and the resulting plate interactions have caused devastating earthquakes, spectacular volcanoes, and the uplift of high mountain chains. The great thickness, variety, and distribution of rocks in Great Smoky Mountains National Park tell a fascinating story of continental-size plate tectonics spanning more than a billion years of earth history. The Rocks Metamorphosed sedimentary rocks are the dominant rock types in the park, but some igneous rocks also occur. Sedimentary rocks form through a cycle of erosion and deposition mostly in water. The eroded materials include cobbles, pebbles, sand, silt, and clay, or the accumulations of shells from ancient sea animals. Igneous rocks solidify from melted rock or lava. Rocks become metamorphosed when they are subjected

Mountain Farm Museum and Mingus Mill The site also demonstrates historic gardening and agricultural practices, including livestock. An inexpensive, selfguiding tour booklet is available.

Kent Cave Photo

Oconaluftee offers both a visitor center and the Mountain Farm Museum-a collection of historic log buildings gathered from throughout the Smoky Mountains and preserved on a single site. Buildings include a house, barn, applehouse, springhouse and smokehouse.

Two excellent walking trails start from the vicinity. The Oconaluftee River Trail follows its namesake stream for 1.5 miles to Cherokee. Mingus Creek Trail climbs past old farms to the Smokies high country. The easy, 1.5 mile Oconaluftee River Trail begins near the entrance to the museum. It is stroller-accessible and follows the river to Cherokee, N.C.

The rocks that form the knife-edged "backbone"of the Chimney Tops are visible beneath lush vegetation.

to heat and pressure, usually related to mountain building. Metamorphosed sandstone, siltstone, and shale, are most common in the park. However, metamorphosed limestone and dolomite are found in the Anakeesta Formation and unmetamorphosed limestone and dolomite are found on the ﬂoor of Cades Cove, below the Great Smoky fault. Siltstone metamorphosed at high temperatures and pressures forms schist, that is found in the eastern part of the park. Metamorphosed granite and granitic gneiss are the oldest rocks in the park and they occur near Bryson City, Ela, and Cherokee, North Carolina. Small bodies of metamorphosed igneous rocks, called dikes, are found from near Fontana Dam to Clingmans Dome. Quartz veins and pegmatite are also present. Geologists have named about 20 different "formations" of rocks in the Great Smoky Mountains. Throughout the Smokies, large boulders of metamorphosed sandstone are common in streams. The rocks fall from cliff outcrops high in the mountains and over time are moved into steep-sided streams. The boulders are carried downstream, rounded, and eventually broken down into cobbles, pebbles, sand, and silt. Then, over thousands of years, the smallest remnants are carried down the Mississippi River and deposited in the Gulf of Mexico. You may have encountered bits of the ancient Smokies along the gulf's famous beaches.

Uncommon Grounds Starting January 15 Every Wednesday from 5 to 8 pm Entree’s Include: • Lasagna Salad, Bread, Drink Dessert $ 20.00 per person • Spaghetti & Meatballs • Linguini with Tomato, Parmesan & Garlic 865-776-7995 &

(Includes tax)

Smoky Mountains Arts & Crafts Community

849 Glades Road, Suite 1B3 (Covered Bridge Complex)

Mileage from Cherokee-2 from Gatlinburg-30 from Townsend-50

A Unique

Gallery

At the visitor center, rangers can answer your questions about the park and there is a bookstore with a broad selection of guides, maps, and other products. The Mountain Farm Museum is a unique collection of farm buildings assembled from locations throughout the park. Visitors can explore a log farmhouse, barn, apple house, springhouse, and a working blacksmith shop to get a sense of how families may have lived 100 years ago. Most of the structures were built in the late 19th century and were moved here in the 1950s. The Davis House offers a rare chance to view a log house built from chestnut wood before the chestnut blight decimated the American Chestnut in our forests during the 1930s and early 1940s. The museum is adjacent to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center.

Kent Cave Photo

RSVP

An Eclectic Mix Of ... Fine Art Crafts Gifts Mingus Mill A half-mile north of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center is Mingus Mill. Built in 1886, this historic grist mill uses a waterpowered turbine instead of a water wheel to power all of the machinery in the building. Located at its original site, Mingus Mill stands as a tribute to the test of time. Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM daily mid-March through mid-November. Also, open Thanksgiving weekend. Highlights: •Water ﬂows down a millrace to the mill. •A working cast iron turbine. •A miller demonstrates the process of grinding corn into cornmeal. •Cornmeal and other mill-related items are available for purchase at the mill.

Rethought, Repurposed, Relived !

865-206-6138 dragonﬂyartdimensions@gmail.com Located in Buie’s Landing Shopping Center (Across from McDonald’s on 321)

1360 East Parkway,Suite 6, Gatlinburg, TN 37738

Around Town

Page 7

Meet The Locals! Tony, Dena and PJ at Crystelle Creek Restaurant

Crystal &

omi a ren and Na a K , e ll ie n Da ce Resort River Terra

John at the

US Post O

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Dave, Bryan and Brian at Three Jimmy’s Restaurant CJ distributing

Around Town

Newspapers

ant daddy’s Restaur

dy at Craw Holly and Ran

Katie Knutsen, Travis Myers, Ltd. Josh Smith & Chris Farragut at Gatlinburg Fire Department Doug and Becky at

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Restaura

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Country C

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Howard’s Res

Gilda and Mon

Cheryl and Luke at Bearskin Lodge

Mammals A total of 65 mammal species live in the park. The largest, tipping the scales at nearly 700 pounds, is the elk, which was experimentally reintroduced to the park in 2001. The smallest is the rare pygmy shrew - a diminutive creature that weighs less than a dime. Some, such as the coyote and bobcat are reclusive, while whitetail deer are very common and obvious. In addition to deer, visitors most often see red and gray squirrels, chipmunks, woodchucks, raccoons, opossums, red and gray foxes, skunks, and bats. The black bear is the largest predator in the park. It is most often spotted in open areas such as Cades Cove and Cataloochee Valley. Ten other carnivore species inhabit the park, including coyotes, red foxes, and gray foxes. These nocturnal animals are not often seen unless surprised after dark along roadsides. Scientists believe that the bobcat is the only wild feline that is lives in the park. Visitors occasionally report seeing mountain lions, however, no concrete scientiﬁc evidence of their existence (such as tracks, scat, or other signs) has been found in the area in nearly 30 years. Raccoons prowling campgrounds for unsecured human food are second only to bears in causing wildlife problems for visitors. Raccoons and skunks can carry rabies, a deadly disease, so always report unusual animal behavior to a park ranger. Bats are unique mammals with forelimbs specialized for true ﬂight. All eleven species of bats in the park feed exclusively on insects. Seven of these species hibernate during colder months while the other four species migrate. The big brown bat, eastern red bat, and eastern pipistrelle are most commonly seen. The park protects the largest colony of the federally endangered Indiana myotis in the state of Tennessee. Most of the caves in the park provide critical bat habitat. Because bats can be harmed by human disturbance in these caves, visitors are prohibited from entering them. There are 27 species of rodents in the park -- the most of

any mammal order. The deer mouse and white-footed mouse are the most common mammals in the park, though they are often only seen by campers and hikers who are startled by them as they forage for food during the night. Eastern chipmunks, gray squirrels, and red squirrels are common in the forests. The solitary woodchuck, also known as a ground hog, is less common but can be seen in open meadows and along mowed roadsides at lower elevations.

ique at Loxx “A

Savvy Salon”

and rooting. Although total eradication of this destructive species is probably not possible, wildlife biologists trap or shoot non-native hogs to keep their numbers in check and reduce the damage caused by the animals.

Signs of the park’s largest rodent, the beaver, are evident in cuttings and dams along the lower portions of creeks in the west and southwest park areas. The federally endangered Carolina northern flying squirrel is night active in the yellow birch and conifer forests of the upper elevations. The park’s eleven shrew and mole species are insectivores that are rarely seen as they tunnel in search of invertebrate prey beneath the soil and vegetation mats. Two species of rabbit live in the park. The Eastern cottontail is common in many habitats and can often be seen in open areas, while the Appalachian cottontail is an uncommon and secretive forest dweller. Mammals native to the area, but no longer living here include bison and gray wolves. Several efforts to reintroduce species that had been extirpated from the park have been successful. Northern river otters were reintroduced in the 1990s. Although secretive, they are active day or night in all seasons and can occasionally be seen along the larger creeks. In 2001 the park began a five-year experimental release program to determine if elk could be successfully reintroduced. These animals last roamed the southern Appalachians in the early 1800’s. Most of the park’s elk stay in the Cataloochee Valley area and are best viewed at a distance in the early morning or late evening when they move into the fields to feed. The park’s efforts to reintroduce red wolves were unsuccessful. A number of factors were responsible for this failure, including low reproduction rates and high pup mortality. The wolves were removed from the park and relocated to the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina. The wild European hog is a non-native species that causes widespread damage to the park's ecosystem by wallowing

The largest animals in the park are elk. Although these females and calf are smaller, adult bull elk can weigh 700 pounds. Ron Shrieves Photo

Page 8 Around Town

Winter in the Smokies • Botanists, entomologists, and other scientists in Inventory and Monitoring tally plant and animal species discoveries for the year. • Resource managers consult with maintenance and roads staff about resource-safe road treatments to melt ice. • The greenhouse manager washes and stratifies (sorts) native plant seeds, then tends to the tiny seedlings as they sprout and grow. • Fire management crews finish the last of the spring’s planned burns in grasslands and fire-dependent forests. • All science staff hunker down on cold days to write funding proposals for next year's research and management projects (such as treating hemlock trees, checking on rare plants, and monitoring air quality) and review applications for interns and seasonal staff. • Partner researchers snowshoe into the mountains (and sometimes zoom on snowmobiles up steep park roads) to monitor lysimeters. (Learn more about lysimeters, which are instruments to measure water from the soil, in the next issue of Dispatches from the Field). • Air quality technicians trek to air quality monitoring stations to maintain delicate computer sensors. On top of the NPS Photo air quality towers winter winds can reach 90 miles per hour Vegetation crews prevent Hemlock Woolly Adelgid by treating or higher. trees along roads and in campgrounds with horticultural oil. • The science coordinator compiles annual reports coming Did You Know? in from researchers who were granted permits. Dogs Are Gods Gift To Humanity • GIS (Geographic Information System)technicians create maps for law enforcement rangers, new construction, cultural resources, botanists, and many other park staff. • This winter, resource managers are helping education staff design and print new displays for the soon-to-open Oconaluftee Visitor Center in North Carolina. • And much more! Cats Know They Are

Late winter frost grizzles hil sides NPS Photo

Spring is just around the corner: daffodils are up and waving in the wind, and torrents of springtime rain are washing snow down the slopes. But did you know that people in the park have been busy all winter, working under the cover of snow to wrap up one year and begin the next? Year-round, NPS staff are busy researching, writing, treating, collecting, and managing. Here's what's going on behind the scenes in Resource Management and Science from November to March: • Vegetation crews spray hemlock trees along roads and in campgrounds with horticultural oil, which kills invasive Hemlock Woolly Adelgid insects on contact. Adelgids are active during cold months and aestivate (enter a dormant state similar to hibernation) during the summer. • Wildlife crews expand in numbers as they hire technicians to hunt invasive, non-native hogs.

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National Park or National Forest; park ranger or forest ranger. Is there a difference between these often confused names? The answer is yes. Although many visitors are not aware of it, national parks and national forests have very different purposes; together they provide us all with a wide spectrum of uses. National parks emphasize strict preservation of pristine areas. They focus on protecting natural and historic resources "unimpaired for future generations." Park rangers work for the National Park Service (NPS) under the Department of Interior.

Natural Soaps, Lotions & Bath Products hand crafted in our shops!

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Two locations in the Arts & Crafts Community! 601 Glades Road (Morning Mist Village) 849 Glades Road (Covered Bridge Complex)

National forests, on the other hand, emphasize not only resource preservation, but other kinds of use as well. Under this concept of "multiple use," national forests are managed to provide Americans with a wide variety of services and commodities, including lumber, cattle grazing, mineral products and recreation with and without vehicles. The national forests are managed by forest rangers with the US Forest Service (USFS) under the Department of Agriculture. Because they have different purposes, adjoining national parks and national forests may need to have very different rules. For example, national parks usually forbid hunting, while forests usually allow it. Dogs can be taken on national forest trails, but not those in national parks. National forests may provide trails for motorcycles; national parks do not. Both agencies have designated wilderness. In these areas both agencies strive for maximum protection of natural landscapes. Because Great Smoky Mountains National Park is next to Cherokee, Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests, visitors need to pay attention to where they are. A perfectly legal activity in a forest may get you cited before a court of law in a park. When you visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park, use the free map to see where you are and which rules apply, or ask a park ranger. In this case, there is a lot in a name.

Cold Beer, Great Steaks, Live Music, Pool Table and a casual local atmosphere.

Directions:Take Glades Road to its end. Turn left and go one mile. On the right.

4133 Birds Creek Road • (865) 436-4192

Value. Everyday.

Gatlinburg’s Grocery Store! For all your grocery needs. 1219 E. Parkway, Gatlinburg DIRECTIONS: turn right onto Rt. 321 at trafﬁc light #3 in Gatlinburg. Go 2.2 miles. We’re on the left.

PUZZLE ANSWERS 1

Three Jimmy's New Years Eve Party Featuring the Blair Experience!!!! Join Three Jimmy's and The Blair Experience for the most exciting, rockin' New Years Eve Party in Sevier County!!! Enjoy smoked prime rib or champagne chicken, a table in the main dining room, party favors and a champagne toast at midnight for $40.00 per person. Limited seats available, they are ﬁlling up fast!!!! Café or banquet room tables with dinner, party favors and a champagne toast at midnight for $35.00 per person or rent the whole banquet room for your own private party!!! $15.00 per person gets you in the door to listen to the band and champagne toast. JOIN US AT THREE

JIMMY'S !!!!

(865) 325-1210

Directions: At trafﬁc light #3 in Gatlinburg turn onto 321. Go 2.7 miles to Glades Road and turn left. We are on the left.

1359 E. Parkway, Suite F, Gatlinburg

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Around Town

Sevierville History

Page 9

Loxx “A Savvy Salon”

If These Hills Could Talk Evidence Of The Rural Life Abounds In The Architecture

By Carroll McMahan Historical buildings abound in Sevierville, whether they are special in their design, renowned because of their builders or remarkable due to events that transpired within their walls. Sevierville was named as the county seat of Sevier County in July of 1795. Four county courthouses proceeded the ﬁfth and current courthouse, which was built in 1896 at a cost of $21,041.93. The current courthouse was designed by the McDonald brothers as an example of the BeauxArts classical style and utilizes bricks manufactured by African-American mason and Sevierville resident, Isaac Dockery. Remodeled in 1970, the courthouse rises 130 feet above the surrounding city of Sevierville and contains a four-sided Seth Thomas clock set into its elegant tower. Built in 1886, The New Salem Baptist Church is the oldest surviving building in Sevierville. It was originally built as a Union Church for and by black congregations and is the oldest surviving brick church and the only surviving historic African-American church in Sevier County.

Many cantilever barns, dominant during the 19th and 20th century in Sevier County, are still standing. In the typical cantilever barn, the wings acted as an umbrella to the log cribs below them. The Harrisburg Covered Bridge- After relocating to Sevier County, the Early Brothers rebuilt the Harrisburg Covered Bridge which was once the center of several commercial activities. The bridge is one of only twelve remaining covered bridges in East and Middle Tennessee. It is 83 feet long and sits on a limestone foundation.

Haircuts Color Specialists Manicures Pedicures Walk-ins Welcome

SeviervilleHistory.com is coordinated by:

Sevierville, Tennessee Chamber of Commerce 110 Gary Wade Blvd Sevierville, TN 37862

(865)

479 Forks of the River Parkway

For more info: www.seviercountyhistory.com

Elk In Our Park

Elk once roamed the southern Appalachian mountains and elsewhere in the eastern United States. They were eliminated from the region by over-hunting and loss of habitat. The last elk in North Carolina was believed to have been killed in the late 1700s. In Tennessee, the last elk was killed in the mid-1800s. By 1900, the population of elk in North America dropped to the point that hunting groups and other conservation organizations became concerned the species was headed for extinction. A primary mission of the National Park Service is to preserve native plants and animals on lands it manages. In cases where native species have been eliminated from park lands, the National Park Service may choose to reintroduce them. Reintroduction of elk into Great Smoky Mountains National Park began in 2001 when 25 elk were brought from the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area along the Tennessee-Kentucky border. In 2002, the park imported another 27 animals. Warning! Elk are large animals-larger than black bears-and can be dangerous. Female elk with calves have charged people in defense of their offspring. Males (bulls) may perceive people as challengers to their domain and charge. The best way to avoid these hazards is to keep your distance. Never touch or move elk calves. Though they may appear to be orphaned, chances are their mother is nearby. Cows frequently leave their newborn calves while they go off to feed. A calf's natural defense is to lie down and remain still. The same is true for white-tailed deer fawns.

429-1663

Sevierville, Tennessee 37862

The use of spotlights, elk bugles, and other wildlife calls are illegal in the national park. It is also illegal to remove elk antlers or other elk parts from the park. Never feed elk or other wildlife or bait them in for closer observation. Feeding park wildlife is strictly forbidden by law and almost always leads to the animal's demise. It also increases danger to park visitors. Every year park animals must be destroyed because of mistakes humans make.

Elk are large animals! Females can weigh 500 pounds. Males can weigh as much as 700 pounds. Did You Know? What lives in Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Although the question sounds simple, it is actually extremely complex. Right now scientists think that we only know about 17 percent of the plants and animals that live in the park, or about 17,000 species of a probable 100,000 different organisms.

To be a Contributing Writer in Smoky Mountains AROUND TOWN Call: (865) 255-3557 “Enter as Strangers...Leave as Friends”

A wonderful place to have a dish that is homemade and delicious in a beau ful open kitchen!

(865) 325-1000 www.visitthecabin.com

600 Glades Rd #10, Gatlinburg, TN 37738

Page 10 Around Town

Images Of The Smokies

Around Town

Visitor Centers time periods through the Civilian Conservation Corp and the development of the national park. The adjacent Mountain Farm Museum contains a fascinating collection of log structures including a farmhouse, barn, smokehouse, applehouse, corn cribs and others. Demonstrations of farm life are conducted seasonally. Available Facilities Great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop. Public restrooms and telephones. Soda and water machines. Backcountry permit station. Sugarlands Visitor Center Stop at Sugarlands Visitor Center to view a free film about the park. Open every day except Christmas Day. January - February 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Begin your exploration of the park at a visitor center. Here you March 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. can pick up a park map or newspaper, have your questions April - May 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. answered by a ranger, and purchase books and guides to the park. June - August 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Four visitor centers are located within the national park at Cades September - October 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Cove, Oconaluftee, Sugarlands and Clingmans Dome. In November 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. addition, four information centers are located outside the park in December 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. the communities of Gatlinburg, Sevierville, and Townsend. From January 7 to mid-March 2013, the lobby at Sugarlands Two historic grist mills are open seasonally in the park. Both Visitor Center will be undergoing renovations to improve visitor services. During this time, the natural history museum portion of provide demonstrations of corn meal milling. the visitor center will be closed to the public. All other services Cades Cove Visitor Center including general information, the park film, and the bookstore Open every day except Christmas Day. will remain available. January 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Location February 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Inside the park, 2 miles south of Gatlinburg on US-441. March 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Special Programs April - August 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Ranger-led programs conducted seasonally. Check at the visitor September - October 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. center for locations and times. November 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Exhibits December 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Free admission to 20-minute film about the park. Extensive Location natural history exhibits. Inside the park near the mid-point of the 11-mile, one-way Cades Available Facilities Cove Loop Road. Great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop. Public Special Programs restrooms and telephones. Soda and water machines. Ranger-led programs are conducted seasonally. Check at the Backcountry permit station. visitor center for times. Clingmans Dome Visitor Contact Station Exhibits April - October 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Indoor and outdoor exhibits of Southern Mountain life and November 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. culture. Includes Cable Mill, a grist mill which operates spring Location through fall, the Becky Cable house, and other historic structures. At the Clingmans Dome trailhead, 7 miles off US-441 on the Available Facilities Clingmans Dome Road. Great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop. Public Available Facilities restrooms. Great Smoky Mountains Association bookstore and shop. Park Oconaluftee Visitor Center information. Public restrooms in parking area. Open every day except Christmas Day Historic Grist Mills January - February 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Cable Mill in Cades Cove March 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Open March 12 through the Sunday following Thanksgiving April - May 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 9:00-5:00 June - August 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Location September - October 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Inside the park near the mid-point of the 11-mile, one-way Cades November 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Cove Loop Road. December 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Exhibits Location Water-powered grist mill. Inside the park, 2 miles north of Cherokee, NC, on US-441. Mingus Mill near Oconaluftee Special Programs Open March 12 through the Sunday following Thanksgiving Ranger-led programs conducted seasonally. Check at the visitor 9:00-5:00 center for location and times. Location Exhibits Inside the park, 2 miles north of Cherokee, NC, on US 441. Visitor center museum exhibits tell the story of life in these Exhibits mountains from native Americans and early European settlement Turbine-powered grist mill.

Gatlinburg Presbyterian Church

Chrismon Tradition Continues On November 20, 1984 the Session of the Gatlinburg Presbyterian church granted permission to the Women of the Church to place a Chrismon tree in the church sanctuary. In August of 2013 the Session charged Bob and Debbie Crain with the honor of continuing the Chrismon ministry. The tradition of Chrismons was started by the daughter of a Lutheran minister, Frances Kipps Spencer, who began thinking of ways to decorate the Christmas tree that would reﬂect the Christian faith. As she imagined what she could do, she created symbols that were monograms for the Greek word for Christ as well as crosses and other symbols of the Christian faith. These symbols speak of His life, ministry, activities, nature and teaching. Chrismons are decorated in gold and white. Our tree is adorned with styrofoam, bead & wire, and cross stitch Chrismons. The styrofoam symbols were cut and prepared with glitter paint by Bob. The church family members ﬁnished the project with the gold and white materials. Classes were held by Debbie to create the symbols of bead and wire. The cross stitch symbols were sewn by the Women of the Church in 1984. Our Chrismon tree was dedicated at the Dec. 1, 2013 worship service. Debbie gave the history and explanation of the Chrismons and The Rev. Joe Blevins gave the prayer of dedication. Our congregation extends an invitation to all who would like to see our beautiful tree at our Sunday worship services at 11:00 a.m. through December 29 and our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 5:30 p.m. Please visit our website www.gatlinburgpresbyterianchurch.org to see our Chrismon Ministry booklet prepared with explanations, pictures and member participation. Gatlinburg Presbyterian Church is located at 237 Reagan Drive, Gatlinburg. 865-436-5592. It is our prayer that all who see these beautiful pieces of art will feel Christ's presence just as we so lovingly worked on them. What a wonderful gift God has given to us all.

Newfound Gap At nearly a mile high, Newfound Gap is signiﬁcantly cooler than the surrounding lowlands and receives much more snow. Temperatures at the gap may be 10° F. or more cooler than in the lowlands and precipitation falling as rain in Gatlinburg or Cherokee may be snow at Newfound Gap. On average, 69 inches of snow falls at the gap. When there is snow on the ground, and the Newfound Gap Road has not been closed because of it, opportunities do exist for snow sports in the area. Many people use nearby Clingmans Dome Road (closed to vehicles December 1 - March 31) for walking and cross-country skiing. The road starts 0.1 mile south of Newfound Gap.

Highlights: A early fall view from the parking area at Newfound Gap. NPS Photo by Christine Hoyer

In southern Appalachian vernacular, a gap is a low point in a mountain ridge. New Englanders call such places “notches” while westerners refer to them as mountain “passes.” At an elevation of 5,046 feet, Newfound Gap is the lowest drivable pass through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The old road over the Smoky Mountains crossed at Indian Gap, located about 1.5 miles west of the current site. Newfound Gap's recognition as the lowest pass through the Great Smoky Mountains did not come until 1872. Arnold Henry Guyot, a Swiss geographer, measured many Southern Appalachian elevations. Mount Guyot, the second highest peak in the Smokies, takes his name. He used a simple barometer to measure changes in air pressure to calculate mountain heights. In most cases he was within 2-3 percent of current values.

His work revealed Newfound Gap as the lowest pass through the mountains, displacing nearby Indian Gap. When the lower, easier crossing was discovered, it became known as the “newfound” gap. A new road followed, and it became the forerunner of Newfound Gap Road.

A trip over the Newfound Gap Road has often been compared to a drive from Georgia to Maine in terms of the variety of forest ecosystems one experiences. Starting from either Cherokee, North Carolina or G a t l i n b u r g , Te n n e s s e e , t r a v e l e r s c l i m b approximately 3,000 feet, ascending through cove hardwood, pine-oak, and northern hardwood forest to attain the evergreen spruce-ﬁr forest at Newfound Gap (5,046'). This fragrant evergreen woodland is similar to the boreal forests of New England and eastern Canada.

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Rockefeller Memorial honors a $5 million donation from the Rockefeller Foundation to help complete land acquisitions to bring about the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Sparky’s Glassblowing Come and watch Gary at work

Glassblowing at its best!

Beautiful, handcrafted blown & sculpted glass (865) 325-8186 www.sparkysglassblowing.com

Smoky Mountains Art’s & Crafts District 849 Glades Road (Covered Bridge Complex)

Scenic views from the large parking area. The Appalachian Trail (AT) crosses over Newfound Gap Road and straddles the state line between North Carolina and Tennessee for most of its length through the park. Visitors can enjoy a short stroll to stretch their legs or a multi-day backpacking excursion on the AT as it runs through the park.

Aerial Photography “Get A Better Look”

Just south of Newfound Gap, the seven-mile Clingmans Dome Road climbs to within 0.5 mile of Clingmans Dome the highest peak in the Smokies. From the large parking area at the end of the road, a 0.5-mile trail climbs steeply to an observation tower at the “top of old Smoky.” Clingmans Dome Road is closed December 1 - March 31.

Mileage from Gatlinburg—16 from Cherokee—18

Wedding Ceremonies

Cabins, Residential & Resorts Newfound Gap in the Fall

865-255-3557

Page 12 Around Town

Get on the Trolley and visit places in the Arts & Crafts Community Heartwood Galleries JEEP RENTALS! 3726 E. Parkway Gatlinburg, TN 37738 (865) 325-1300

“Our Art is Where Your Heart Is”

Largest selection of sculptured wood artifacts in Galinburg DIRECTIONS: In Gatlinburg turn onto Route 321 at trafﬁc light #3. Go 3 miles. We are on the right.

Have Fun Seeing The Smoky Mountains! DIRECTIONS: In Gatlinburg turn onto Route 321 at trafﬁc light #3. Go 1.1 miles. We are on the left. For Reservations: (865) 430-4033