Fall is my favorite time of the year. Primarily because it means hot weather is behind us. I don't like hot weather. Anything above 70 is too hot for me unless I am in the water. Therefore, it is with great anticipation that I look forward to cool, crisp mornings, colorful leaves, blue skies, frost, sweaters and soups.
So far, however, it still seems like summer. Is this long, hot summer ever going to end? I know, I know, there are lots of you out there loving this. You probably haven't broken a sweat since 1963.
At press time, the long-range forecast was calling for cooler temperatures by this weekend. By cooler, they mean the low 80s. I never thought I would be happy to see the low 80s! Unfortunately, with the temps in the high 80s and the mid to high 90s for the past few weeks, that seems like an arctic freeze almost!
Bears, as you know, hibernate in winter. I do that in summer. You will be hard-pressed to find me outdoors unless it is late in the evening or I am in the water. I just can't do the heat. Never have liked it... probably never will. When I hear people say they want to go to Florida for the winter, I always say I want to go to Maine for the summer. Fall and winter here are just my cup of tea!
Anyway, there are lots of things to do this time of the year. Besides football, there are lots of activities to do outdoors when the temperatures begin falling. Such as:
•hiking
•touring the Smoky Mountains
•pumpkin painting/carving
•hayrides
•visit the Autumn Acres corn maze and pumpkin patch on 1096 Baier Road
•decorate for fall with mums, pumpkins and/or Halloween items
•ride bikes
•visit the state's parks
•drive over to Biltmore House and Gardens
•go to the pumpkin festival in Allardt
•watch the Cumberland County High School Homecoming Parade. It was held Thursday evening at 5:30 p.m. and featured the Glitter Queens, bands, floats, queens and lots of candy.
CCHS students have celebrated homecoming all week on campus with dress days. Thursday was the parade, bonfire and pep-rally at First Bank of Tennessee and tonight will be the crowning of the new queen and the Jet game with Sparta.
Vying for 2007 homecoming queen are Sara Loveday, Missy Bargayo, Taylor Williams and Deonna Lynch. Homecoming class representatives for this year at CCHS are Sammy Jo Miles, freshman; Meagan Morris, sophomore; Allison Rose, junior; and Jessica Hayes and Jessica Wright, seniors.
Speaking of homecomings around our county, it is Homecoming Week at Pleasant Hill Elementary School this week. Monday was Pajama Day, Tuesday was Hawaiian Day, Wednesday was Camo Day and Thursday, Spirit Day. The Hornets hosted the South Rebels in their homecoming game.
And over at Martin Elementary School, Homecoming 2007 ended with the crowning of King and Queen T.J. Potter and Erin Curry. Congratulations to both of them!
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Youth basketball sign-ups are currently under way over at the Cumberland County Youth Center. Students ages 6-16 are eligible. Call 484-9736 for more information.
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Congratulations to the SMHS Band. Did you see them on Channel 10 Friday night? They did a great job as the featured Band of the Week!
Lifestyles
AROUND THE TOWN: Fall is here, so why am I still sweating?
- Lifestyles
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Widows Sons support TAD
The Widows Sons Masonic Riding Association, Dry Bones Chapter, held a benefit motorcycle ride May 19 to benefit the Teens Against Drugs (TAD) Center in Crossville.
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New Corvette Club shares love for flair, design
If you were reaching maturity during the 1950s through '60s, you were probably either a Chevy guy or a Ford guy. While Chevy guys had reason to admire Ford Thunderbirds and Mustangs, the Chevy sports car enthusiasts have had an ace-in-the hole with the advent of the first production Corvette in 1953 — only six months after it debuted as a GM prototype.
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Arts festival coming in September
Mark on your calendar the dates of September 14-15 (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) for the Plateau Arts Festival at the Plateau Creative Arts Center, 451 Lakeview Drive (off Peavine) in Fairfield Glade.
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PLEASANT HILL RAMBLINGS: Award-winning artist shares talent with community
Not everyone has the pleasure of living next door to a “real live artist” – not just a Sunday painter as many of us are, but an award-winning career artist who has had 20 solo exhibitions, been accepted into various juried shows and garnered numerous awards.
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2012 Tennessee Senior Chess Tournament winners honored
The chess tournament was a great success, with a total of 18 players representing Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and Kentucky. They took home many prizes, plaques and cash playing open section.
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PLATEAU GARDENING: Photographing plants and blossoms
I keep a monthly photographic plant journal. With a digital camera, photography enthusiasts like myself can take lots of pictures at little cost. Not surprised plants are my favorite photo subjects, are you?
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Celebrating Tennessee state parks
Come celebrate National Trails Day and the 75th anniversary of Tennessee State Parks, Saturday, June 2.
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GIVING BACK: Take a look at state of our waste
The county recently submitted its solid waste report to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. In the past year, the county collected and landfilled 52,462 tons of waste. Another 6,067 tons of materials were collected and recycled. A total of 58,829 tons of waste were collected by the county.
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The River WILD!
The Big South Fork of the Cumberland River winds its way through the 125,000 acres of the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area before flowing into the Cumberland River and Lake Cumberland in Kentucky. It’s a free-flowing river, with no dams to control release of the water, but the scenery and the magnificent rock formations make it a favorite of paddling enthusiasts who watch the weather to see if they can get out and explore areas that are hard to reach by foot.
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Farmer's Market opens for business June 2
The Cumberland County Farmer’s Market will officially open the growing season as it has every year since 1978. This year’s “opening” will be Saturday, June 2, at the traditional location on Livingston Rd., next to the fairgrounds. Selling will begin early (6:30 a.m. or so), although some vendors may set up a few hours later in order to provide the freshest vegetables picked just that morning. There is usually a good selection until well after noon.
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