East Tennesseans love the Girl Scouts and Girl Scout cookies. The Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians was recently featured on WBIR-TV to help kick off the traditional Girl Scout Cookie sales drive.
As part of this year’s sales drive, the local council is testing the ability to process credit card sales at the cookie booths.
This year’s cookie sales also includes a new variety in honor of the Girl Scouts’ centennial.
Commissioner Susan Whitaker
Knoxville, Tenn. – Knoxville takes the first step toward putting itself on the map as a premier outdoor recreation community with the launch of Outdoor Knoxville, a three-pronged initiative to capitalize on the exceptional outdoor recreational assets found in and around Knoxville. It includes a new Adventure Center, a website and a three-day festival this summer.
The most visible presence for Outdoor Knoxville will be the Outdoor Knoxville Adventure Center to be created in the City-owned Gateway Pavilion Building at Volunteer Landing. Legacy Parks Foundation, a Knoxville-based non-profit focused on expanding parks, open space and recreational opportunities, will operate the center in partnership with River Sports Outfitters.
“Outdoor Knoxville will showcase our trails, parks, waterways and greenways for both visitors and Knoxville residents,” said Mayor Madeline Rogero. “We have great opportunities here for recreation in beautiful natural settings just minutes from downtown, and this effort will help promote those and encourage everyone to get out and enjoy them.”
The Outdoor Knoxville Adventure Center will serve as the recreational hub for not only Knoxville but also the entire region. It is centrally located with easy connections to downtown Knoxville, the University of Tennessee, I-40, and all the trails and greenways on both sides of the river.
Outdoor Knoxville will be a destination through a unique mix of boutique retail, outdoor equipment rentals and sales, and local events and excursions.
Carol Evans
Legacy Parks Foundation will locate its office on the second level and manage the space for public events and activities. The theater and large room will be made available for public use. Recreational, civic and community groups will be encouraged to hold meetings in the space for a nominal charge. These rentals for business and private functions would generate revenue to support Legacy Parks Foundation’s operations and mission.
River Sports Outfitters, a 29-year-old recreational retailer and outdoor excursion provider in Knoxville, will manage the first level. They will feature boat, stand-up paddleboard and bike rentals as well as retail space offering outdoor gear and equipment. Premium outdoor brands Patagonia, The North Face, Smart Wool and Mountain Hardware will create boutique concept shops within the River Sports Outfitters retail space.
In addition to the rental and retail components, Legacy Parks Foundation and River Sports Outfitters will offer public programs and group outings from the facility. Maps, directions and general information about recreational opportunities throughout the region will be provided at an information center in the building. Outdoor-related events held at the facility will bring people down to the waterfront and get them out to play.
The Gateway Pavilion Building is owned by the city, and originally housed the Gateway Regional Visitors Center. In recent years, the building has been vacant, and the city has paid to maintain it. City Council will be asked to approve a lease with Legacy Parks Foundation at its March 6 meeting. If approved, the Outdoor Knoxville Adventure Center will open in mid-April.
The second element of the Outdoor Knoxville initiative is a new website, OutdoorKnoxville.com. It is a robust, comprehensive portal to all outdoor recreational activities, venues, and events in our region. This highly interactive website has gathered information, videos, photos, and other related content from a broad and inclusive variety of sources, creating an easy-to-use resource for all levels of outdoor adventurers. The site officially launched today.
OutdoorKnoxville.com will position Knoxville, and the region, as a recreational destination by showcasing the abundance of parks, trails, greenways, activities, and amenities that we enjoy in Knoxville.
Mayor Madeline Rogero
It will be a powerful tool for everyone:
Legacy Parks Foundation has developed the site with a skilled advisory team. Elle Colquitt, author of the popular “Mini Adventure Series” of guidebooks for on- and off-road adventures around Tennessee, has developed all the content. She will keep the content current and exciting, review and manage all postings, maintain the Facebook page, and produce a weekly e-newsletter showcasing events and local activities. In addition, she will aggressively market the site locally, regionally, and nationally to users, content providers, sponsors and advertisers.
OutdoorKnoxville.com offers a year-round activity calendar that can be added to by anyone. Additionally, users are able to submit videos and photos as well as offer their experiences, advice, and review on events, trails and venues.
Information will always be current, descriptive, and easy to use. Outdoor KnoxFest is the third key element in the initiative. Outdoor KnoxFest will be a three-day event, Aug. 24 -26, that promotes a variety of outdoor recreational venues and opportunities throughout East Tennessee and encourages people of all levels of experience to participate. The Outdoor Knoxville Adventure Center will be the hub of these activities.
The events will include:
Legacy Parks Foundation has been actively working to make East Tennessee a recreational destination of the Southeast. The initial work has been focused on creating a 1,000-acre urban wilderness and recreational corridor stretching along the Tennessee River’s south shore, from the Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area to Alcoa Highway. This corridor will parallel and connect to the greenways along the north side of the river.
During the past five years Legacy Parks Foundation has raised more than $3 million for parks, greenways and recreational venues, added more than 200 acres of parkland to Knox County and helped protect nearly 1,000 acres of farm and forest land in East Tennessee.
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Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com
Nashville, Tenn. – One hundred years later, the great ship Titanic still has the ability to deliver a surprise or two. The cast and crew of Nashville’s Circle Players learned this first-hand while preparing for a return engagement of Titanic the Musical, April 5-8, at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center’s Polk Theatre. The ship allowed a new surprise to rise to the surface when one of the play’s cast members learned of her own family’s unexpected connection to the shipwreck.
The return of the Tony Award-winning musical to Nashville is made possible through the sponsorship of Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge as part of the museum’s 100th anniversary tribute to passengers and crew aboard RMS Titanic.
“It is easy to believe the Titanic is a story about a ship,” says John Joslyn, co-owner of Titanic Museum Attractions and co-leader of the first private expedition to the ship’s final resting place. “In reality, it is the stories of her passengers and crew that captivate us. We use first-person stories and artifacts to tell those stories everyday at the museum. The musical brings those stories to life right before our eyes.”
“On the 100th anniversary of the ship’s maiden voyage, the play is a fitting way to pay tribute to the lives changed forever by Titanic,” said Joslyn.
Circle Player cast member Jennifer Kleine discovered her family was one of those changed forever by the disaster. While researching her role for the musical, Jennifer Kleine learned a distant relative was among the survivors rescued after the ship struck an iceberg in April, 1912. The infant relative, Trevor Allison, was the sole survivor of his family thanks to the efforts of his nanny to get him to a lifeboat. The boy’s parents and sister perished in the disaster and baby Trevor was left in the care of relatives in Canada. These relatives were the great-great aunt and uncle of the actress.
“My father remembers his grandmother telling him stories about the ‘Titanic baby’ raised by the family,” said Kleine. “And now, a century later I have the chance in my own way to tell my family’s story along with the stories of all the families touched by Titanic.”
“The actual events of Titanic may have taken place 100 years ago, but the drama and emotions are just as relevant to our 21st century lives,” said Tim Larson, the play’s director. “In every age, we look to technology to prove our progress as a civilization. When that technology fails, we are left with the question of whether we will allow the failure to define our generation or if we will build anew. Titanic the Musical is a chance to look at the different ways we all react to that dilemma.”
A cast of more than 60 local actors and surprise celebrity walk-ons will take the stage at the James K. Polk Theatre to perform the Tony Award-winning musical. The musical will be performed nightly from April 5-8 with a matinee performance also scheduled for Saturday, April 7. As part of the centennial tribute to Titanic, the Circle Players will also host a gala dinner at the 100-year-old Hermitage Hotel on opening night, April 5. The dinner will include a presentation by John Joslyn about his expedition to Titanic.
Tickets for Titanic the Musical are currently available from the TPAC Box Office in downtown Nashville (505 Deaderick), by phone at 615-782-4040 or online at www.tpac.org. Tickets for the April 5 opening night gala dinner are sold separately on the Circle Players’ venue page at www.ticketsnashville.com.
Additional sponsorship of the 100th anniversary performance of Titanic the Musical is provided by First Tennessee Bank, the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and Nashville Parent Magazine.
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About Circle Players: Founded in 1949, Circle Players is Nashville’s oldest community theater company and completely staffed and operated by volunteers. The non-profit organization is community-based, and focuses on arts participation and arts access for all. Circle Players was the first theater company in Tennessee to stage Titanic the Musical, one of the most popular productions in the company’s history. For additional information about Circle Players visit www.circleplayers.net or call (615) 332-7529.
About Titanic Museum Attractions: Titanic Museum Attractions operates the world’s largest permanent monuments to the history of the ship, its passengers and crew. With locations in Branson, Missouri, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, the museums house the largest permanent collection of Titanic artifacts. The museum is open daily at 9 a.m. Reservations are strongly suggested since many days sell out entirely. Passengers may purchase tickets online at www.titanicattraction.com or by phone at (800) 381-7670.
Media: For interview opportunities or images, please contact Rick Laney at Ackermann PR, (865) 584-0550 or Amanda Saad at the Andrews Agency, (615) 242-4400.
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. – The two-day lineup for the 8th Annual Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass festival is finalized. The event will be held on May 18 and 19 in Sevierville, Tenn. and has been named a Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 event for the month of May.
The Travelin’ McCourys will be the headlining act of this year’s festival and will perform on Saturday, May 19 at 8:00 p.m. The group features Ronnie (mandolin) and Rob McCoury (banjo), sons of Del McCoury, a popular bluegrass legend. Two additional band members include Jason Carter (fiddle) and Alan Bartram (bassist), forming a powerful group playing both traditional and progressive music.
“This is always an exciting time of the year for us as we finalize our lineup and begin final preparations for the festival,” says Sevierville Chamber of Commerce marketing director Amanda Marr. “The talent level of this group of performers is amazing, and they will certainly provide a full weekend of great entertainment for everyone in attendance.”
The lineup is listed below:
Friday, May 18, 2012
Jerry Butler & The Blu-J’s / Just Us / Jimbo Whaley & Greenbrier / The Quebe Sisters Band
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Mountain Ruckus / Ken Mellons / Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper / Rockin’ Acoustic Circus / The Travelin’ McCourys
For ticket information, or general information on this year’s festival, please visit http://bloominbbq.com/.
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Media Contact:
Ryan Willis
rwillis@ackermannpr.com
(865) 584-0550
Knoxville, Tenn. – Football. Basketball. Hockey. Soccer. If these four sports were thrown in a blender and mixed together, the result would be one of the country’s fastest growing sports – lacrosse. Typically a sport that has been more popular in the North, lacrosse is quickly becoming a popular option across the South, including the Knoxville area, which will play host to a showcase weekend for the sport, February 24-27.
The weekend will include match-ups on the high school level featuring Farragut, Webb School of Knoxville and Father Ryan (Nashville). On the collegiate level, the University of Tennessee men’s lacrosse team will take on Virginia Tech and Alabama, while Knoxville will also host its first-ever NCAA lacrosse game on Monday, February 27, featuring Birmingham-Southern and Adrian College. The full schedule is listed below.
“This is such an exciting weekend for all of us in the lacrosse community because we get the opportunity to spotlight a sport that continues to grow and expand in the Knoxville area,” said Matt Synowiez, Head Coach, UT Men’s Lacrosse and director of the Smoky Mountain Lacrosse Club. “We hope the community takes this opportunity to come out and watch a game, and see just how skilled these athletes are and how much fun this game is to watch and play.”
The sport of lacrosse continues to grow in Knoxville at the youth level, through Knox Youth Sports programs and the Smoky Mountain Lacrosse Club (SMLC). Knox Youth Sports caters to those interested at the “beginners” level, while SMLC offers summer leagues for middle and high school aged students. The SMLC will feature two travel teams this summer, coached by the UT lacrosse staff, and geared toward developing players to play at the collegiate level.
The SMLC also founded a men’s summer lacrosse league with participants ranging in age from late teens to late 50’s. This league has grown from 50 members the first summer to more than 100 participants last summer.
“We expect this weekend’s events to continue to fuel the growth of the sport at all levels in East Tennessee,” added Synowiez.
Lacrosse Weekend Showcase Schedule
Friday, February 24
University of Tennessee vs. Virginia Tech – 7:30 p.m. (UT Intramural Fields)
Father Ryan (Nashville) vs. Farragut – 7:00 p.m. (Farragut – Johnny Long Training Academy)
Saturday, February 25
Father Ryan vs. Webb – 2:00 p.m. (Webb)
Virginia Tech vs. Alabama – 2:00 p.m. (UT Intramural Fields)
Sunday, February 26
University of Tennessee vs. Alabama – 12:00 p.m. (UT Intramural Fields)
Monday, February 27
Birmingham-Southern vs. Adrian College – 12:30 p.m. (UT Intramural Fields)
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Knoxville, Tenn. – For many kids growing up, playing on the playground was the highlight of the school day. Now, Power Systems is giving gyms and fitness clubs the opportunity to provide their members this childhood experience all over again, by introducing a new product to “play” on. Although the SpaceStation™ may look similar to the neighborhood jungle gym, it is a powerful training tool designed to produce maximum results with every workout.
The SpaceStation™ is designed for single or multiple users to perform body weight and suspended exercises in a safe, creative and functional manner all in one place. It can easily be set up in spaces that are not currently being utilized and allows for up to 20 people to work out at the same time.
There are two different SpaceStation™ models, allowing the flexibility of placing the system indoors or outdoors. The Summit model is designed specifically for indoor use, while the Frontier model may be set up outdoors. Both models offer the same function, and are designed to house multiple training stations.
“We wanted to offer a versatile product that would be fun and challenging, but also give gyms and clubs the opportunity to maximize space without disrupting their current floor plan,” said Monty Kilburn, Vice President of Marketing & Sales. “It provides users of all ages and levels of strength the opportunity to get out of a stagnant daily routine. The SpaceStation™ includes training stations for pull-ups, push-ups, suspended exercises, monkey bars, Power Training Rope anchor points and many others. Each model is available in three different variations, affording customization for the space and functional needs required. workout routine and vary their workouts each day on one piece of equipment.”
“We love that users feel reenergized when using the SpaceStation™, and are getting the opportunity to be kids again while getting in a great workout,” added Kilburn.
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About Power Systems: Power Systems is the fitness and sports accessory equipment industry leader committed to making a real difference in the health, fitness and performance needs of people at every level of experience. Since its founding in 1986, Power Systems has been recognized for its standards in customer service, product selection and on-time delivery. The company is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. For additional information about Power Systems, visit their website at www.power-systems.com.
Media Contact:
Jeff Hooper
(865) 584-0550
jhooper@ackermannpr.com
2012 K2 Wilderness at the Smokies Volleyball Tournament
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. – Organizers of large sporting events are regularly asked by attendees – “What else is there to do around here?” One destination offers an answer to this question unlike others in the Southeast. Wilderness at the Smokies resort in Sevierville, Tenn. features everything an event organizer, athlete or spectator would want in an event, without even stepping outside – making it one of the Southeast’s only year-round destinations for sporting events.
Within a day’s drive for 75 percent of the Eastern U.S. population, Wilderness at the Smokies has 200,000 square feet of space available for hosting major national youth sporting events including:
The most recent (and one of the largest) was the K2 Volleyball Wilderness at the Smokies Tournament, which took place over two weekends last month. This year’s tournament included more than 3,500 athletes and 15,000 total attendees.
“This event has been so successful, we have grown it each year and plan to expand once again in 2013,” said Erin Caylor, a coach for K2 Volleyball Club. “We were completely at capacity for this year’s event and had a lengthy list of teams from around the country on a waiting list.”
“Wilderness at the Smokies resort was wonderful to work with, and they truly were a partner in helping us host a top-notch tournament,” added Caylor.
To assist with the setup for sporting events, Wilderness at the Smokies has its own sports court flooring and can provide up to 21 volleyball courts and nets or, if the sport is basketball, five full-size basketball courts.
The traditional January and February “slow season” for Smoky Mountain tourism received a big assist in the form of the volleyball tournament in 2012. For two consecutive weekends, the nation’s best volleyball clubs competed in the tournament, bringing more than 18,000 people to Sevierville and generating an estimated economic impact in excess of one million dollars. The event has proven to be such a success that tournament organizers are considering adding a third weekend in January 2013 to accommodate the waiting list of teams hoping to participate.
Wilderness at the Smokies
Wilderness at the Smokies contributed $5 million to the Sevierville economy in 2011 in taxes alone.
Attached to the Sevierville Events Center, Wilderness at the Smokies offers more than 700 mountain modern guest rooms and multi-room suites in addition to condominiums and a Wyndham Vacation Resort on the Wilderness property.
With restaurants, gift shops, convenience stores, game rooms, mini-golf, lounges, a deli, two outdoor waterparks and the area’s largest indoor waterpark, it isn’t necessary to leave the amazing resort. While staying at Wilderness at the Smokies resort, guests can swim, surf and splash in the waves in 84-degree weather all year because of the huge indoor waterpark and other amenities. Also, Wilderness has countless meeting rooms where teams and athletes can meet with coaches to prepare, go over strategy and review results before, during and after competitions.
A brand new indoor park, Adventure Forest, opens in March 2012, doubling the resort’s indoor offerings.
The president of NetLynx, Doug Janeska, who organized the Smoky Mountain Gymnastics Vacation Classic at Wilderness, said, “My company has organized over 40 major competitive events across the country over the past 25 years. One of the biggest events we’ve ever had was the Smoky Mountain Vacation Gymnastics Classic at Wilderness at the Smokies resort.” The resort played host to nearly 7,000 people during this four-day event.
Wilderness at the Smokies, located minutes from Interstate 40 and situated in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, is establishing a new standard for athletic competitions, conferences, conventions and meetings in East Tennessee. With six restaurants, two 18-hole golf courses, two outdoor waterparks, an indoor waterpark with a wave pool and surf rider, hot tubs, and countless waterslides and attractions, and the brand new Adventure Forest, Wilderness at the Smokies has something for all age groups. For more information about Wilderness at the Smokies, visit www.WildernessAtTheSmokies.com.
(Knoxville, Tenn.) – Craving a Thin Mint, Samoa, Tagalong or Do-si-do? If so, you are in luck! Booth sales begin this Friday, Feb. 17 outside area businesses for Girl Scout Cookies.
This year’s Girl Scout Cookie sale has some fresh, new aspects, including a special cookie created just for the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts of the USA: Savannah Smiles. It is a cool, crisp lemon cookie with just the right number of lemon chips to delivery tiny bursts of flavor – and the cookie is named after the birthplace of Girl Scouting: Savannah, Ga.
Additionally, some troops within the Southern Appalachians council will participate in a pilot program in which the Girl Scouts will accept payment for cookies by credit card using a device called GoPayment, a free credit card reader that clips onto smartphones.
Also recently announced was the FREE “Girl Scout Cookie Locator” smartphone app, which allows users to locate Girl Scout Cookies for sale in their neighborhood.
Eight varieties of Girl Scout Cookies will be sold at booths this year: Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Do-si-dos, Trefoils, Savannah Smiles, Dulce de Leche and Thank U BerryMunch. The price per box remains $3.50, and booth sales are February 17 through March 11.
“Girl Scout Cookie season is an exciting time for our council,” said Booth Kammann, CEO of Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians (GSCSA). “Proceeds from the sale can help send a Girl Scout to camp, help pay for clothes for an abuse victim rushed to a shelter or cheer up a soldier far from home.”
“This program encourages entrepreneurship, goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics. Selling cookies teaches girls valuable lessons that will impact their futures in an extremely positive way,” said Kammann.
Some troops will even participate in the “Bling My Booth” competition, in which they will go all-out to decorate cookie booths with special themes. In 2012, girls will decorate cookie booths to celebrate the Girl Scouts’ 100th Anniversary. Girls will then post booth photos on the council’s website, and tens-of-thousands of fans will go online to vote for their favorites.
All proceeds from the Girl Scout Cookie sale stay within the council. Some earnings go directly to troops for girls to decide how to use – from paying for special events to funding community service projects.
To find a Girl Scout selling cookies in your area, call 1-800-474-1912 or download the Girl Scout Cookie Locator smartphone app. Visit www.girlscoutcsa.org for more information on the sale.
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About Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians
The Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians has more than 20,000 girl and adult members stretching from North Georgia to Southwest Virginia. Service centers are located in Chattanooga, Knoxville and Johnson City. Our mission is to build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. The council offers financial assistance to ensure that every girl who wants to be a Girl Scout has the opportunity to join this vibrant organization.
Media Contact:
Sarah Malak Pope, Ackermann PR
(865) 584-0550
spope@ackermannpr.com
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. and BRANSON, Mo. – Titanic Museum Attractions is hosting “A Night to Remember: An Original Musical Tribute to Titanic,” on Saturday, April 14, the 100th anniversary of the night the ship struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage. Musical performances, historic ceremonies and appearances by actual descendants of Titanic’s passengers and crew will highlight the production honoring the 2,208 people aboard the ship. The musical tribute will begin at noon (Central) on April 14 at the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, Missouri, and at 8:30 p.m. (Eastern) the same day at the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Tickets for the unique historical tribute are available beginning Monday, February 20, by calling 800-381-7670.
“There will be ceremonies across the globe to commemorate the Titanic centennial on April 14, but the only place in the United States where guests can attend a formal tribute is at one of the Titanic Museum Attractions,” said John Joslyn, co-owner of Titanic Museum Attractions and co-leader of the first private expedition to visit the ship’s final resting place on the ocean floor.
The Titanic Museum Attractions – the home base for the U.S. RMS Titanic 100 Year Anniversary Commemoration
“A Night to Remember” will use choirs, orchestras and musical theater performances to bring the stories and drama of that fateful night to life for those attending the one-time only tribute.
“From folk ballads to modern pop, people have always used music as a way to commemorate historic events,” said Joslyn. “Titanic was memorialized in song before and after her sinking, so a tribute centered on music seemed an appropriate way to pay our respects.”
Adding to the historic occasion, descendants of people aboard the Titanic’s maiden voyage will also be present at the American tributes. The ceremony will conclude with a symbolic reenactment of the launching of Titanic’s distress flares and the lighting of a memorial flame at the bow of the ship to honor the 2,208 people aboard Titanic.
“The anniversary will be commemorated around the world in television, film, and print,” said Josyln. “We wanted to provide an opportunity for people to be more than passive witnesses to the anniversary. ‘A Night to Remember’ gives the audience a chance to actually be a part of the historic event and part of the community dedicated to preserving Titanic’s legacy.”
Tickets to “A Night to Remember: An Original Musical Tribute to Titanic” are available through the Titanic Museum Attractions in Missouri and Tennessee. Visitors may purchase tickets by phone at (800) 381-7670 beginning February 20, 2012. In addition to museum admission and the musical production, ticket holders will receive limited edition memorials dedicated to the ship’s history, including a DVD containing video tributes of the personal stories of selected passengers and crew.
The Titanic Museum Attractions are located in Branson, Missouri, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Together, the two museums represent the largest permanent monuments in the world dedicated to the memory of Titanic. The museums, immediately recognizable for their ship-shape design, are home to hundreds of artifacts from the ship and its survivors. “Passengers” experience what it was like to walk the hallways, parlors, cabins and Grand Staircase of the Titanic while surrounded by artifacts and exhibits that tell the story of the ship’s history and fate.
Since its opening in 2006, Titanic Branson has welcomed more than 5 million “passengers” aboard the museum. Titanic Pigeon Forge opened in 2010 and has already welcomed 2 million visitors. For additional information about the museums, visit www.titanicattraction.com
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Editors: For more information, for additional high-res photos, or to schedule interviews or visits to the museums, please contact Rick Laney at (865) 584-0550 or (865) 441-2388.
