December 1, 2009
Popular Local Weather Forecaster to Sign Calendars
Ray Russell, the popular local weather forecaster, will be signing his recently released 2009 RaysWeather.com calendars on Sunday, December 13th from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the Mast General Store in Valle Crucis.
This year’s calendar features the work of 16 local photographers along with weather facts and history from around the region. Each photo was chosen by voters to RaysWeather.com websites.
Ray Russell is a computer science professor at Appalachian State University, who just happens to have an intense interest in the weather. In the mid 1990s, he introduced a “snow forecast” on his ASU webpage that became a popular stopping point for students and later those in the greater community. From those humble beginnings, the phenomenon of RaysWeather.com has grown to include communities surrounding Boone and farther flung areas like Asheville, Waynesville, and Sparta.
Stop by the Original Mast General Store in Valle Crucis on Sunday, December 13th from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. to visit with Ray and find out what the weather forecast is for your favorite part of the world. For more information, call 828-963-6511.
November 30, 2009
Mast General Store Celebrates Christmas in the Valle
The Original Store in Valle Crucis will be hosting Christmas in the Valle beginning the Friday after Thanksgiving and continuing through Christmas Eve.
The jolliest of elves, Santa Claus, will be available on Saturdays, 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., and Sundays, noon until 3 p.m., to verify his list in person with young visitors. Due to a scheduling conflict with the elves at the North Pole, Santa will be unavailable on December 5 and 6.
Round out your holiday feasts with gourmet food and drink. Sample a selection of cider, coffee, salsa, cheeseballs, and more during your stay.
Mark your calendar for Saturdays, December 5, 12, and 19. Children 12 and younger are invited to participate in a Make and Take craft activity at the Little Red School House in Valle Crucis from 10 a.m. until noon. Participants are asked to bring TWO canned food items for the Hunger Coalition. Parents’ assistance is welcomed.
Enjoy live music on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from noon until 2 p.m. Performances will range from bluegrass and folk to Celtic and classical.
Remember the Valle Crucis Fireside Tour on Sunday, December 6 from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. The shops, inns, and churches in the community welcome everyone to stop in and share a cup of Christmas cheer. A limited number of tickets are available at the Original Mast Store in Valle Crucis and are $10. Proceeds go to the Valle Crucis Community Park.
Bring your pets for a family portrait with Santa Paws on Saturday, December 5 and Sunday, December 6 from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. at the Little Red School House. Proceeds go to the Watauga Humane Society. (A snow date is offered for this event – December 12 and 13.)
The Original Mast Store will be open from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Santa will review his list one last time from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. before leaving on his round-the-world journey.
For more information on Christmas in the Valle, call Mary at the Original Mast Store at 828-963-6511.
October 20, 2009
Share the Warmth
With the increased economic strains on everyone this winter, there’s even more need to share the warmth and help others stay warm. The Mast General Store is hosting its 5th Annual Share the Warmth coat, sweater and blanket collection campaign from now until November 30th.
As we scurry about enjoying the cool days of fall, we all know that colder temperatures are on the way, and many of us are ready to face whatever Old Man Winter has to offer. Unfortunately, there are some in our communities who aren’t prepared.
The Mast General Store, along with Columbia Sportswear, invites you to share the warmth in your community by "sharing" your clean coats, jackets, blankets, and sweaters so others can be warm this winter. All items will be given to local community help organizations. You can drop off your outerwear at Mast General Store locations in Valle Crucis, Asheville and Waynesville NC, as well as Knoxville, TN, and Greenville, SC.
“It was important to us for our community partner to work with those truly in need,” said Fred Martin, vice president of operations. “Our employees, our customers, and Columbia Sportswear are all giving to our communities, so we want to ensure that these coats, jackets, sweaters and blankets will go to individuals who can use them.”
This is the fifth year the Mast Store has undertaken this project to help provide coats for those in need in their home communities, and it’s the third time that Columbia has stepped up to help out as well. “Our customers are always so helpful when we identify a need. We all have jackets and coats hanging in our closets or in storage that can be put to better use,” said Martin. “If you can help, please drop off your clean coats, jackets and blankets by November 30th.”
For more information, call the Mast Store:
Valle Crucis, NC – 828-963-6511
Greenville, SC – 864-235-1883.
Knoxville, TN - 865-546-1336.
Waynesville, NC - 828-963-6511
October 8, 2009
Valle Crucis Punkin Festival Slated for October 24th
The fourth annual Valle Crucis Punkin Festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 24th. It is held in the field beside the Mast Store Annex and is a fund raiser for the Western Youth Network (WYN), an organization supporting youth and families in Ashe, Avery, and Watauga Counties. Festival hours are 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
The Valle Crucis Punkin Festival is a kid-friendly event with games, entertainment, crafts, food, and punkin carving. The games are a hodgepodge of old-fashioned offerings that involve both skill and luck. Younger children will enjoy playing them, and they are challenging enough for older kids, too.
“We’ve had such a good time the last three years putting together the festival and seeing families come out and enjoy themselves,” said Tracey Thompson, one of the organizers of the Punkin Festival and an employee at the Mast General Store. “Kids and parents work together carving punkins, and there’s lots of laughter from the games.”
“Usually we try to change up the games each year, but last year’s selection was so well received, we are going to run it for one more year,” said Tracey. “You’ll remember many of these games from the carnival midway and fall festivals from long ago. We try them out ourselves and figure if we have fun with them, others will, too!” The complement of games includes Go Fish, Punkin Bowling, and Ring Toss along with Apple Bob, Tin Can Alley, Punkin Sack Races, and Hoop-La.
This year’s festival will expand the craft area and part of the food will be provided by a local scout troop.
WYN is a partner in the festival and will receive the proceeds from the event. “The Punkin Festival is an event that brings together our kids, our young volunteers, and our parents in a fun atmosphere,” said Jennifer Grubb, WYN executive director. “We get to have fun and share it with visitors from all over the region!”
What would a Punkin Festival be without punkins? “The foundation of the festival is our no-muss, no-fuss punkin carving area,” laughed Tracey. All punkins to be carved will already have the seeds and pulp removed. All you have to do is come up with a design and carve away. “We came up with a great system two years ago when we discovered that a Shop Vac is an invaluable tool for the success of our festival,” continued Tracey. These punkins will be available for a donation of $10 to WYN, multiple punkins will be offered at a discount.
Entertainment will be provided by Creekside Grass, a local band that was the runner up in the HayesGrass Bluegrass competition earlier this year.
Game tickets will be three for $1. Commemorative festival t-shirts will be available on site, as will bake sale items and hot cider and cocoa, and other Festival Food.
Of course, this question begs for an answer – Why punkin? Once you attend the festival, the answer is quite evident. It’s because “punkin” is so much more fun than “pumpkin.” WYN hopes you’ll come out for “carvin’ for a cause” on October 24th. For more information on the festival, call the Western Youth Network at 828-264-5174 or click here.
April 9th 2009
Helping Disaster Victims Take Their First Steps Toward Relief
Who would have thought that just by doing a little spring cleaning in your closet you could help change the world? The people at Soles4Souls™ had just that idea.
Soles4Souls™ assists in the recovery effort by providing one of the most basic needs for people who have lost everything…shoes. When Katrina hit our own gulf coast, almost a million pairs of shoes were collected to help those in Louisiana and Mississippi.
You can help with efforts to aid victims by bringing your gently-used or new shoes to the Mast General Store now through April 30th. “We saw this as a great opportunity to involve both our employees and our home communities,” said Fred Martin, vice president of the Mast General Store. “Most of us have shoes that are just taking up space in the bottom of our closets. Why shouldn’t they go to help those in need?”
Soles4Souls can use just about any type of shoe – boots, sandals, dress shoes, work boots, etc. They should be gently-used or new. Bind them together with rubber bands and place them in the Soles4Souls collection boxes at any Mast Store location now until April 30th.
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