Thomas at NCTM
SPENCER ó Thomas the Tank Engine pays a return visit to the N.C. Transportation Museum Sept. 26-28 and Oct. 3-5.
During the Day Out With Thomas 2008: The Great Discovery Tour, children will be provided with a Great Discovery Tour Map that guides them through the various event activities. At the last stop, each child will receive a free gift.
Activities include: a 25-minute train ride, opportunity to meet Sir Topham Hatt, Controller of the Railway, Thomas & Friends Imagination Station featuring stamps, temporary tattoos, hands-on arts and crafts activities and coloring sheets, storytelling, video viewing and live music, including a performance by Bob the Builder.
The train ride with Thomas the Tank Engine will depart every 45 minutes, rain or shine, with departure times at 8:30 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. daily. Tickets are $18 plus tax for ages 2 and up.
Tickets are on sale now by calling 866-468-7630 or at www.ticketweb.com/thomas.
For more information and directions contact NCTM at 704-636-2889 ext 240 or visit www.nctrans.org.
Green Goat party
SPENCER ó The Green Goat Gallery and Blue Ewe Yoga Studio is celebrating its first year in business with a party from 6-8:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Anne Waters has managed the Green Goat Gallery since last fall. She has added yoga in addition to the store’s art offerings. Featured at the celebration is the artwork of Leslie Hamlin, a Davie County artist who does paintings on glass.
Also that evening, Jon Palmer & Associates Architects will have its grand opening on the gallery’s second floor.
For more information about the anniversary party, call the Green Goat Gallery at 704-639-0606.
School mini-concerts
The After School Strings Program, a joint project of the Rowan-Salisbury School System and the Salisbury-Rowan Symphony Society, provides a group learning experience for young musicians in the Salisbury area.
To introduce elementary age students to string instruments and the after school program, a series of concerts are taking place this week in each elementary school in the Rowan-Salisbury School system. A trio of professional musicians will perform music in a variety of musical styles.
Performers will be Susan Perkins, violin; John Pruett, viola; and Anne Sellitti, cello.
The After School Strings Program will be taught on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, beginning Oct. 2.
Teacher and professional musician Carrie Webster teaches the classes at Granite Quarry, assisted by Anne Cave. At Landis, professional violist Frank Albert teaches the classes, assisted by music specialist Sharon Gunther. Overton classes are instructed by the Salisbury Symphony’s concertmaster, Dan Skidmore, assisted by music specialist Anne Musselman. These classes are open to anyone age 8 and up.
For more information on these activities, contact Education Director Susan Trivette at 704-637-4730 or strivett@catawba.edu
International Festival
CHARLOTTE ó The Office of International Programs at University of North Carolina-Charlotte kicks off the 33rd year of the International Festival on Saturday, Sept. 27.
Created in 1975, the International Festival (IFest) is UNC Charlotte’s longest-running event and attracts more people than any other.
IFest will be held in the Barnhardt Student Activities Center and the surrounding area. A celebration of international culture, it is committed to be free of politics. Admission and parking are free.
The Loch Norman Pipe Band begins the festival at 10 a.m. in Halton Arena. The festival continues until 6 p.m., featuring open-air marketplaces from around the world, adults and children in traditional dress, international food samplings for sale, ethnic and traditional music, dance performances, cultural crafts and children’s activities.
The Parade of Nations begins at 2 p.m. with a variety of ethnic costumes representing more than 60 nationalities.
For more information call 704-687-7781 or visit http://ifest.uncc.edu.Film submissions
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK ó North Carolina Visions, UNC-TV’s popular independent film series, is now accepting film and video submissions for the upcoming 14th season.
Whether you’re a North Carolina native or resident filmmaker, a director who’s captured Tar Heel topics or local landscapes, or you’ve simply made a film with strong connections to the state, submit your film by Sept. 30 for the opportunity to bring your big idea to the small screen.
For North Carolina Visions submission guidelines and entry form visit the official North Carolina Visions Web site at www.unctv.org/ncvisions.Easy Street Jazz
The Rowan Blues and Jazz Society presents the third in a series of festival “Sneak a Peek” events to raise funds for the annual Blues and Jazz Festival. The Joe Robinson Jazz Band will perform 8-11 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2 at the Heritage Room on Easy Street, 118 E. Council St.
Artwork by Leo Rucker will be auctioned, and refreshments will be provided by Uncle Buck’s.
Admission is by a $10 advance donation or $12 at the door.
Joe Robinson has been a regular performer for the yearly festivals, and he is returning for this year’s festival on Oct. 11.
Tickets for the Oct. 2 event are available at Literary Book Post, 119 S. Main St. or by calling 704-636-2811.Writers’s workshop
A weekly writer’s workshop will be held Mondays, 7-9 p.m. beginning Oct. 6 at the Looking Glass Artist Collective, 405 N. Lee St.
The sessions are open to all writers, all levels. Participants are asked to read their work to the group to receive constructive feedback. It is also an opportunity to find out more about making submissions to publishers. Sessions are facilitated by author and playwright Sam Post.
The weekly workshops will be ongoing, with no regular attendance requirements. Participants pay a $5 fee each time they attend.
For more information, call Post at 704-232-0923.
SOVA to meet here
Salisbury will be hosting the 4th annual Southeastern Orchestra Volunteer Association Roundtable Friday, Oct. 17 at the Waterworks Visual Arts Center. The event will include orchestra volunteers from six states.
The opening session will be led by Danita Morgan of Raleigh, a certified presenter of the Shar McBee concept of leadership. Afternoon sessions will focus on fundraising, with five roundtables for idea interchange.
SOVA is a regional organization of individual volunteer members and volunteer organizations who focus on the support of symphonies in their own locales.
The Roundtable is open to members and non-members.
Call Gigi Leffler, 704-372-7606 or e-mail sova05@aol.com.