Saturday, August 19

The Tenite/Specialty Plastics Reunion will be held from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Eastman Shelter #9. Those attending are asked to bring a covered dish and a drink.

The descendants of Ruby and Addie Birchfield Gouge and Emmert and Bettie Gouge Collins will have their annual reunion at 12:30 p.m. at Little Doe Freewill Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. Those attending are asked to bring covered dishes, pictures, etc. For more information, call 725-4591.

A Country Breakfast will be held from 7 to 10 a.m. at Fairview United Methodist Church. Everyone is invited to come and enjoy good food and great fellowship. The breakfasts, which are held every third Saturday of each month, consist of bacon, fresh ground sausage, tenderloin, eggs, pancakes, gravy and biscuits, cinnamon apples and more. Cost is by donation. The church is located at 878 Highway 81N, about five miles from downtown Jonesborough.

Rocky Top Gun Permit School will offer a handgun carry permit class at 135 Keenburg Road, Elizabethton, starting at 8 a.m. Ken Potter, a veteran law enforcement officer, is the instructor for the class. Rocky Top is one of the first schools to offer permit training and has been teaching the program since 1997. Cost of the class is $55. You will need to bring your weapon and 50 rounds of ammo. Potter says for those who haven’t yet purchased a gun, loaner guns are available. You may call Ken at (423) 341-1709, (423) 543-6048 or email him at kpotter641@yahoo.com.

Watauga Valley Fife and Drums from 10 a.m. until noon. The Fife & Drum Corps performs at historical events, dedications, and parades. This group is open to anyone ages 13 & up. Musical experience is welcome but not necessary; just come with a willingness to learn. Meet at the Sycamore Shoals Visitors Center. Lessons are free of charge, just call and let us know you’re coming!

Sunday, August 20

The Knight Family Reunion will be held in Roan Mountain in the park behind the post office at 1 p.m. with decoration of the Knight Cemetery on Hampton Creek to follow.

The Brewer/Birchfield Family Reunion will be held at 1 p.m. at the large picnic shelter at Roan Mountain State Park. Those attending are asked to bring food and drinks to share. For more information, call Karen Kyte at 423-900-3441.

Know Your Sewing Machine — Join instructor Donna Horowitz from 1 to 4 p.m. at Sycamore Shoals State Park for this basic class. Cost: $25. Have a sewing machine but don’t know how to use it? This class will teach you basic machine operations (Embroidery machines and sergers are not included). Please bring  sewing machine, sewing machine manual and accessories, small scissors. Instructor brings fabric and thread.

Monday, August 21

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) will meet at First Baptist Church, 212 East F St., Elizabethton. Weigh-in begins at 5:30-6:30 p.m. with the meeting starting at 6:45 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend these meetings. For more information, call Joan Jarrett at 268-2100 or 914-1954 or Peggy Nave at 957-1114 or go to our website at www.tops.org (800-932-8677).

Nicotine Anonymous, a 12-Step Recovery Program of Mutual Support for those who want to stop smoking or live free of nicotine in any form, will meet at 7 p.m. at the Carter County Drug Prevention Coalition Youth Opportunity Center, 546 East Elk Ave., Elizabethton. There are no dues or fees. You only need to bring a desire to stop using nicotine. Contact Thad at 423-306-3866 for more information.

Friday, August 25

The Elizabethton Senior Dance Club will hold a dance at the Elizabethton Elks Lodge, No. 1847, 1000 N. Sycamore St., from 7 to 10 p.m. The Rambling Rose Band will provide music. Those attending the dances are asked to bring finger foods to share. There is a $6 door charge. The club holds dances the second and fourth Friday nights of each month. All seniors are welcome.

Saturday, August 26

20th Annual Fort Watauga Knap-In — from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at Sycamore Shoals State Park. Knapping — with a “K” — has nothing to do with sleep! Knapping is the art of making stone tools, and the Knap-In at Fort Watauga is our celebration of Tennessee Archaeology Week. Watch primitive skills craftsmen make arrowheads, spear points and other survival tools. There will be demonstrations of primitive tools such as the bow, arrow and atlatl throughout the day.

Watauga Valley Fife and Drums from 10 a.m. until noon. The Fife & Drum Corps performs at historical events, dedications, and parades. This group is open to anyone ages 13 & up. Musical experience is welcome but not necessary; just come with a willingness to learn. Meet at the Sycamore Shoals Visitors Center. Lessons are free of charge, just call and let us know you’re coming!

Sunday, August 27

Old Time Music Jam – Led by Art Lang. From 1:30-4 p.m. at Sycamore Shoals State Park. Enjoy the rich musical traditions of our region each month. Old time musicians of all levels are welcome. Don’t play an instrument? Come on over, kick back, and enjoy the tunes!

20th Annual Fort Watauga Knap-In — from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Sycamore Shoals State Park. Knapping — with a “K” — has nothing to do with sleep! Knapping is the art of making stone tools, and the Knap-In at Fort Watauga is our celebration of Tennessee Archaeology Week. Watch primitive skills craftsmen make arrowheads, spear points and other survival tools. There will be demonstrations of primitive tools such as the bow, arrow and atlatl throughout the day.

Monday, August 28

Johnson County Shrine Club will meet at MP-Taylorsville Masonic Lodge in Mountain City at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call Doug McFadden at 423-360-1486 or George Lopota at 432-725-4123, if needing a ride.

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) will meet at First Baptist Church, 212 East F St., Elizabethton. Weigh-in begins at 5:30-6:30 p.m. with the meeting starting at 6:45 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend these meetings. For more information, call Joan Jarrett at 268-2100 or 914-1954 or Peggy Nave at 957-1114 or go to our website at www.tops.org (800-932-8677).

Nicotine Anonymous, a 12-Step Recovery Program of Mutual Support for those who want to stop smoking or live free of nicotine in any form, will meet at 7 p.m. at the Carter County Drug Prevention Coalition Youth Opportunity Center, 546 East Elk Ave., Elizabethton. There are no dues or fees. You only need to bring a desire to stop using nicotine. Contact Thad at 423-306-3866 for more information.

Saturday, September 2

The Happy Valley Class of 1962 will hold its 55th reunion at the Sinking Creek Baptist Church Pavilion, 2313 Elizabethton Highway, Johnson City. The event will take place from 12 noon-? and will include a barbeque lunch, desserts and drinks. The cost is $10 each to be paid at the pavilion. Please RSVP by Aug. 26 to Glenna Hodge Bullock at 423-542-4429 or 423-262-3038.

Watauga Valley Fife and Drums from 10 a.m. until noon. The Fife & Drum Corps performs at historical events, dedications, and parades. This group is open to anyone ages 13 & up. Musical experience is welcome but not necessary; just come with a willingness to learn. Meet at the Sycamore Shoals Visitors Center. Lessons are free of charge, just call and let us know you’re coming!

Saturday, September 16

The Steed College 2017 Reunion will be held at the Johnson City Country Club, Johnson City. All alumni, faculty, staff and friends are invited to attend. Registration will begin at 4 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m. Other activities to be announced later. Please contact us to get your name and address on our mailing list: Bob Chafin, 276-202-1724 cell, 276-623-1461 fax, bochafin@bvu.net.