Cable Country

05

Momentum in Marion

 May 24, 2007

We walk the streets of downtown Marion to see first hand how Marion has made quite a comeback. 

There’s momentum in Marion.

“I remember when the shops weren’t full”, says coffee shop owner, Casey Hart. “So I think it’s a lot of fun to come and see life back down here”.

“We can offer personalized service”, says business owner, Mike Masone.

Mike moved to Marion from New York and set up shop on Main Street in 1976. He’s seen downtown Marion through a rollercoaster of ups and downs.

“It’s gone through several changes from good to bad to better to best actually”, Mike says. “And that’s where we’re at right now, we’re in an excellent position of improvement”.

Downtown revitalization has been led by an active Main Street Program--along with the re-opening of the historic Lincoln Theatre and the opening of the General Francis Marion Hotel.

“They have added quite a bit of class to the downtown area”, adds Mike. “Definitely has made Marion, Virginia notable”.

Helping to make the nightlife notable downtown is 120, Incorporated.

“The coffee and the ice cream, that’s our specialty”, according to Casey. “Grilled sandwiches, wraps and salads. You know I would go to the coffee shops being in college and things like that and I just felt like that that was something that was missing. I think people here especially the high school kids you know they watch TV and they go and visit the bigger cities and they see how the kids congregate in places like this. It’s something that’s a part of their culture. We’ve been doing a lot of live entertainment we just finished Marion Idol which was a huge success”.

Another huge success story downtown is Framing Unlimited/Main Street Gifts and Eatery--where Tricia Spencer has been in business for over 20 years.

“We have custom framing, P. Buckley Moss art”, Tricia says. “If you look around just art in general on your walls we do a lot of kitchen accessories, wine, cheese. Just kind of you know just a little unusual we try to find things that you won’t see just anywhere so--probably a lot of my own hobbies right here”.

And there’s a Garden Party in the next room.

“We’ve done a lot of weddings and--receptions, reunions, banquets, any parties anything you could possibly need a room for”, says Tricia. “I’ve had great customers, I have wonderful customers and--I mean I’ve never had a reason not to be here”.

It’s attitudes like that that have made Marion--and will continue to make Marion move forward.

“I grew up in New York City and Queens”, says Mike. “Downtown Marion is very unique, the honesty and integrity of the community is extremely refreshing”.

“You know I don’t see why you can’t find just about anything you need in the town of Marion”, says Tricia proudly.

The town of Marion will be celebrating the red, white, and blue this Memorial Day weekend with a host of events. On Saturday, from 10 to 4, The Settler’s Museum in Groseclose will be celebrating “Settlers Day” with wagon rides, reenactors, soap making, blacksmithing and live music.
On Saturday night at the Lincoln Theatre, Eddie Miles returns in his “Salute to Elvis”. The performance kicks off at 8:00 p.m.
Then on Monday, the Marion VFW post 4667 is sponsoring the big Memorial Day Parade along Marion’s Main Street beginning at 10:00 a.m. There’ll be well over 40 entries in the parade. 



Posted by Tim Cable

The Watauga Lake Experience

 May 22, 2007

It’s big doings around Watauga Lake this Memorial Day weekend. They’re calling it “The Watauga Lake Experience” and I had the pleasure of experiencing the lake one recent sunny afternoon. 

Say aye aye to Captain Wally.

“Well, I am a captain”, laughs Wally Bender.

Who, along with his dog, Jenny.

“She is my first mate”, Wally says.

Will be filling up their toybox with passengers this weekend for a special excursion on beautiful Watauga Lake.

“It’s an absolutely gorgeous lake”, says Wally.

“The TVA says it’s the third cleanest lake in the United States”, says Watauga Lake Business Association member, Vikki Woods. “We agree that it’s the most beautiful lake in the United States”.

“It’s a jewel”, Wally adds.

And it’ll be overflowing with activities this Memorial Day weekend with the first annual Watauga Lake Experience--a festival celebrating the lake on Saturday and Sunday.

“A group of business owners who have interests around Watauga Lake thought it was time that we preserved, protected and promoted the beauty of Watauga Lake and the surrounding Watauga River Valley”, according to Vikki.

After looking through the Butler Museum, board Wally’s boat for an hour long tour--where the story of Old Butler is uncovered.

“We’ll take them out over the old city or old town and then take them up to where the Watauga and the Elk River come together”, says Wally as he points straight ahead from his captain’s seat. “We’re right at the start of old Butler and it would be going back this way in the lake. The old town just followed this valley”.

It’s a story akin to Atlantis.

“I just think it would be quite a shock to the local people who have lived here all their lives to be told that their town is actually gonna be under water”, Wally continues. “From what I understand there are other old towns under the water but I think Butler got its main stuff by being an incorporated town I think that’s what makes it unique from the rest of them”.

See the spots where old photos were washed away by the view today.

“We’re at about 130 feet of water right here”, says Wally. “To have a town under the water here--I think they’ve done a great job in preserving the history of this area”.

Besides enjoying the unique history, you can enjoy a flood of other activities this weekend. For instance, at the Sugar Hollow Lodge and Retreat, there’ll be an arts and crafts show and sale and bluegrass music both days in the scenic amphitheatre. Boat shows, a photo scavenger hunt, hikes, horseback riding, kids activities--an absolute overflow of events.

“This is certainly the place to be Memorial Day weekend”, says Vikki proudly. “On the water, around the water and in the mountains, you can’t beat a vacation like that”.

For a complete schedule of festival events, go to the website at http://www.wataugalakeexperience.com



Posted by Tim Cable

Splash Country Cascades

 May 18, 2007

The big, new addition at Dollywood’s Splash Country this year will sure make a big splash with families. 

Fun is overflowing at Dollywood’s Splash Country again. Their new attraction makes a big splash at 2.8 million dollars--the largest expansion in the waterpark’s six year history.

“It’s called The Cascades”, says Public Relations Manager, Pete Owens. “It’s a still pool meaning that it just doesn’t have any waves but it’s a big pool it’s an activity pool for kids”.

It’s an 8,000 square foot lagoon featuring over 25 interactive play and spray elements. And while the kids romp, Mom and Dad can relax.

“It’s also a place for Mom and Dad to chill out a little bit”, Pete says. “It’s off the beaten path a little bit it’s kind of its own little cove with some places for kids to have a great time there’s a lot of different levels of decking around in the hill around it. So Mom can kind of relax and the kids can have fun and it can all be done in the same area and they’re not in the wave pool or they’re not on a slide somewhere”.

20 foot tall sprays rise from the pool’s geyser and slides weave their way throughout the giant rock grotto, the pool’s centerpiece with its cascading waterfall.

“It’s going to be really neat for folks to have an opportunity to walk behind and around a waterfall”, adds Pete. “There are seats by the waterfall for Mom and Dad”.

If you get the feeling they’re gushing with family pride, you’d be right. The award winning park has set a high watermark--and the plan is to keep going with the flow.

“We have a really exciting plan over the next several years to continue to expand”, continues Pete. “Dollywood’s been blessed in the fact that we really have set some attendance records over the last several years and attendance growth continues to be really brisk and so we need to try to keep up with that growth by adding attractions--and I think that’s something the families are really going to enjoy”.

Dollywood’s Splash Country opens for the season tomorrow morning, May 19th at 10:00 for a special opening weekend Saturday and Sunday. The waterpark opens for good for its’ Summer season on May 26th with the final day of the season on Sunday September 16th. For more information visit the Dollywood website at http://www.dollywood.com



Posted by Tim Cable

Asbury Place Goes Bananas

 May 17, 2007

A Johnson City nursing home decided to celebrate National Nursing Home Week in an “appealing” way. 

Inside the Asbury Place activity room.

“It looks like a church social in there right now”, says Director of Nursing, Susie Hutchings.

This social gathering is..

“Going bananas for nursing home week”, according to Administrator, Cathy Powell.

And the scoop is: they’re trying to make the longest banana split in Washington County history. Who came up with this split decision?

“Our leadership team came up with this idea”, Cathy says. “Every year we try and celebrate, not only our residents during nursing home week but our staff as well so we wanted something that our staff could join in”.

So they commenced with the ice cream.

“24 gallons of ice cream”, Cathy chimes in.

Slipped in 20 pounds of bananas, a colossal concoction of cool whip, chocolate syrup, pineapples, strawberry topping and cherries.

“And a lot a lot of love went into it”, adds Cathy.

And came up with the tape measure treat.

“I think it’s a hundred feet”, Susie says.

Which could be a county record.

“It could be”, chuckles Susie. “I would have to say that someone would have to dispute that and show us the evidence thereof”.

So who needs that Guinness Book stuff.

“Now the Guinness Book of Records indicates it’s 4.5 miles but we really couldn’t do that”, Cathy says. “It is a record for Asbury Center we do know that”.

And after all, it’s the taste and the treat of it all that matters most--every lovin’ spoonful.

“At Asbury Place we have always been very resident centered”, says Marketing Director, Kitty Pickle. “We’re always focused on the resident we kind of feel like we want to go out of our way to make them happy and to do things that are a little bit different for a nursing facility so I think by going bananas for nursing home week we’ve kind of shown that and we’ve had a great time. We love to play here”.

Yep, nothing wrong with going bananas every now and then.

“I think the residents have had a wonderful time today and that’s the whole point”, according to Susie. “This is their home and any way that they can enjoy their life and we can enrich their life that’s what we are here for”.

I guess you could say that’s the cherry that tops it all off.



Posted by Tim Cable

Life in an Airpark

 May 16, 2007

Back in March, we introduced you to Real Estate Broker, Ted Hensley and told you about how he and his late brother took off with an idea to build a residential airpark in Washington County near Chuckey. In this story, we look at the flight plan a little closer. We look at life in an airpark. 

Flying high--living in an airpark.

“This is right where I want to be right where I need to be”, says Mac McCarty.

For Mac, it was a dream come true.

“Yes sir, a dream come true that is true”, Mac says. “It was one of those things that you always wanted to do but life got in the way you know”.

He’s a 70-year-old retired dentist who’s found a new use for his drill.

“Shall I say open wide?”, Mac says as he holds up his drill. “Nah, I wouldn’t say that”, he chuckles.

In his garage--which is more like a makeshift hanger--there’s a project taking off. He builds..

“My ultimate model airplane”, Mac interjects. “This kit that I have here is just the ultimate model and this gives me the opportunity to build this with people around who’ve also built them and are flying them”.

People like Walt Shipley.

“I’ve been envisioning this for probably the last ten years”, says Walt.

He looked at living in several different airparks like one near Nashville and in Greenville, South Carolina--before landing in this one.

“This one is the most beautiful of them all because of the mountains”, Walt says.

His flying machine..

“Is a kit airplane that is riveted aluminum”, he explains. “It’s a quick build kit, it only took me three and a half years to do it--that’s a joke”, laughs Walt.

Walt climbs into the cockpit of his aircraft and begins tinkering with the controls. Life in an airpark is almost as convenient as flipping a switch.

“I can walk out this door and get in this airplane and I don’t have to drive to an airport”, he says. “So this is just handier”.

“First and foremost, I grew up in the country in Mississippi”, adds Mac. “I’m back in the country now with cows around me and I dearly love this rural setting. People that live in an airpark are kind of single minded they’re all thinking aviation so you got a group of folks that think alike and that makes for a nice, healthy community”.

It also makes for a life full of freedom.

“You are very free to do it when you want to do it as you wish to do it”, Mac says.

And you can’t beat the view.

“You take one look at those mountains and it just blows you away”, says Walt. “I can be worried about something and once I get up in the air I don’t think about anything except flying. If you’re up there like late in the evening and the air is like velvet it’s just beautiful flying around these mountains”.

“The view, the independence it gives you, a dimension that you don’t have when you are standing on the earth”, adds Mac.

It’s a life these avid aviators say they’ll continue to wing.

“Who knows how many days you got left”, Mac says. “But I sure intend to enjoy them doing this”.

For more information about Hensley Airpark, visit their website at http://www.hensleyairpark.com



Posted by Tim Cable

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