TOWNSEND BIKE BASH - APRIL 25th @ 9AM

Back by Popular Demand --The Dancing Bear Bike Bash has been re-named the Townsend Bike Bash to reflect the growing popularity of biking in our beautiful mountain area. Dancing Bear remains the presenting sponsor along with Cycology Bike Shop  plus there are three new supporting sponsors who have joined including Dogwood Cabins, Big Meadows Campground, and Apple Valley Country Stores in Townsend. The ride is benefitting the Townsend Walland Business Association. A portion of each registration will go to support more Biking and more events in Townsend, TN on the Peaceful Side of the Smokies! 

Each registration includes your choice of a 30 mile or 50 mile fully supported ride with turn by turn directions. There will be two rest stops and a lead and a "sweep" rider. Each registrant will receive a free tee shirt (please let us know your size) and a complimentary catered lunch at the completion of the ride. Because the new Dancing Bear restaurant is still under construction, the lunch will be catered out of the Apple Valley cafe and will be served on the lawn in the grounds at the base of US 321 between Apple Valley and Dancing Bear.

For Accommodations, go to the following websites.

Dogwood Cabins. www.dogwoodcabins.com. Traditional Cabin Rentals in Townsend, All shapes and sizes starting at $100 plus cleaning fees and hot tub fees.  101 Painted Trillium Way, Townsend, TN 37882  (888) 448-9054

DancingBearLodge.com ...Luxury Cabins with hot tubs and fireplaces, some with kitchens, all with refrigerators. Starting at $180 per night inclusive of all fees. 137 Apple Valley Way, Townsend, Tn 37882 Call  800-369-0111 Ext 1 for reservations

Big Meadows Campgrounds--- www.bigmeadowcampground.com Family Campground For RVs and 5th wheels  8215 Cedar Creek Rd, Townsend, TN 37882. (865) 448-0625. Rates depend on size of space, rig, etc. Award winning campground. 

Cycology Bike Shop in Maryville, TN! http://www.cycologybicycles.com The BEST BIKE SHOP in East TN! 

Online Registration Deadline is Wednesday April 22nd 2015 @ 5pm ET

REGISTER ONLINE HERE: https://www.bikereg.com/townsend-bike-bash

Admission: $45 for both 30 mile and 50 mile races

Address: 7140 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy Townsend Tn 37882

NOW BOOKING HERITAGE PARK for 2015

Nestled on seven private acres, Heritage Park is the ideal outdoor Wedding and Event Venue.  Features include a large covered pavilion, two grass courtyards, pond with waterfall and fountain, bridesmaid's room, reception hall, large swimming pool, picnic area, and more.  From family reunions to outdoor weddings and receptions, Heritage Park can accommodate your event up to 150 guests.

Visit Heritage Park online at www.heritageparkevents.com or call 865.448.3960 to arrange your private tour.  Through April 1, 2015, refer a friend or family member that books an event with HP and receive a gift certificate for a 2 night stay at Dogwood Cabins!

Firefly Viewing Affected by Warm Temperatures

Due to the unseasonably warm spring, the synchronized fireflies found in Elkmont at Great Smoky Mountains National Park are presenting earlier than ever recorded according to park officials. The shuttle service to the event site is still scheduled to take place from June 2-10 for ticketed reservation holders only. Park biologists are predicting that there may still be some activity during the weekend of June 2nd, but the display will be past peak and may taper off significantly well before the following weekend.  Those with reservations are being advised of the possibility that the display will not be as good as in previous years.

This early showing has prompted the Park to close the Elkmont entrance road to motor vehicles and pedestrian use every evening from Wednesday, May 30-Sunday, June 10. Only registered campers staying at the Elkmont Campground will be allowed to access the road.

The Park had set aside 25 parking passes aside to make available the day before the event though www.recreation.gov. These passes may be withdrawn depending on the activity of the fireflies. Please visit www.recreation.gov for current status on these passes.

The popularity of the annual firefly event has made it necessary to close access to the Elkmont viewing area to protect park resources and visitor experiences. This closure requires the availability and coordination of a large number of park staff and the shuttle service provider. The event is generally scheduled based on the recorded timing of firefly appearances in the past years, but Spring 2012 was uncharacteristically warm and made it difficult to accurately predict well in advance. Due to the logistics involved, the Park does not have the flexibility to switch the event operations forward or backwards to match the peak firefly activity.

For more details on the fireflies, please visit the park s website www.nps.gov/grsm and click on  synchronous fireflies.

Valentine's Day at Laurel Valley Restaurant

Laurel Valley Restaurant Valentine's Day Menu

6:00 - 8:00 P.M. Reservations Only

865.448.6001

Soups

French Onion  $5

Benton's Tomato Bisque  $5

Salads

Spinach Salad  $5

Spinach, Feta Cheese, Toasted Almonds, Dried Cranberries & Warm Benton's Bacon Vinaigrette

Cobb Salad  $5

Spring Greens, Benton's Bacon, Bleu Cheese Crumbles, Hard Boiled Eggs, Fresh Avocados & Cobb Dressing

Appetizers

Crab Cakes  $7

 Cucumber Slaw &  Lemon Caper Aioli

Macaroni & Cheese  $6

Topped with Benton's Bacon & Diced Tomatoes

Avocado Deviled Eggs  $6

Cayenne pepper, Chives & Poppy Seed Vinaigrette

Entrées

Chicken Athena Pasta  $15

Panko Breaded Chicken Breast Atop Angel Hair Pasta With Fresh Spinach, Artichokes, Red Onions, Olives, Capers & Fresh Tomatoes In a Chardonnay Cream Sauce.

Fish & Grits  $16

Blackened Wild Caught Salmon Atop Cheddar Grits, Corn &  Red Pepper Chardonnay Cream Sauce. Served With Grilled Asparagus.

Steak & Potatoes  $18

6oz Peppercorn Filet  Served With Grilled Asparagus,  Blue Cheese Potato Au Gratin, and Red Wine Demi-Glace.

Desserts

Strawberry Fields Forever  $6

Strawberries, Balsamic Vinaigrette & Basil On Sweet Pound Cake. Topped With Chantilly Whipped Cream. Served With Chocolate Covered Strawberries.

Double Chocolate Walnut Fudge Brownie Al a Mode  $6

Fudge & Carmel Drizzle, Topped With Chantilly Whipped Cream.

Served With Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Laurel Valley Resort announces Director of Fitness

Laurel Valley Resort is pleased to announce Penny McIntosh as it's newest team member and Director of Fitness at the Laurel Valley 24 hour Fitness Center. Penny is a Duke trained Health Coach, Certified Personal Trainer, and Nutritionist.

Penny will be available for FREE orientations to past members, as well as those considering joining the LV Fitness Center, at scheduled times. She begins Jan 6, 2012 and will be available by appointment 7AM-2PM Monday-Friday. She will also offer additional services such as group sessions, classes, personal training, and nutrition monitoring ...as well as designing health conscious menu items for the Laurel Valley Restaurant.
You may learn more about Penny and the additional services she offers by visiting her virtual training site at www.healthcoachpenny.com or by calling her directly at 865.740.4182.

The 2012 Laurel Valley Resort Membership packages are in the mail, but you can get a head-start on our NEW "Social Membership", which includes access to the Fitness Center, Swimming Pool, and other social events for only $250/year per household. Call Janet Latham at 865.448.6690 for credit card payments and/or installment plans ...or mail to: Laurel Valley 702 Country Club Drive, Townsend, TN 37882.

Parkside Realty Wears Valley 15K - Sept. 11

Join us THIS SUNDAY for the Parkside Realty Wears Valley 15K in Townsend, TN.


We would like to thank Parkside Realty for coming on as our Title Sponsor for this event! Along with a new title sponsor, we are also moving our location this year. We will be hosting all pre and post race activities at Trillium Cove which is just past the Townsend Visitor's Center on Lamar Alexander Parkway. We will include directions in the pre-race email set to go out soon.


Race starts at 8 am and there is ample parking at Trillium Cove (no fields this year)! Race day registration will open at 7 am at Trillium Cove. And, make sure to check out the shops at Trillium Cove. The Picnic Pantry has a great variety of foods and coffee for spectators!


We can also still use a few volunteers on race day. Click here for information on registration and to sign-up to volunteer via our online program!


More information? Contact Pam Haggard, Race Director, at 865-207-6122 or pamhaggard@ymail.com or Mike Wortley, Event Manager, at 888-217-5635 opt 3 or knoxtrackevents@gmail.com.

The Blackberry Jam at Trillium Cove - Labor Day Weekend

THE BLACKBERRY JAM AT TRILLIUM COVE Benefiting Appalachian Bear Rescue (Townsend, TN, August 9, 2011) General Admission is Free! Join us Saturday, September 3rd, from 10am-6pm as Trillium Cove hosts it’s first annual Blackberry Jam Benefiting Appalachian Bear Rescue (ABR). The shops are proud to be sponsors and will donate 10% of all sales the day of the event to ABR. Come and play games and partake in activities designed to educate the young and old on the black bear. Browse art and crafts that will be bear-centered from talented vendors, and listen to live music by The Dirty Dougs, White Water and Pistol Creek Catch of the Day.

Don't miss the Blackberry Jam at Trillium Cove Cook-Off starting at 11am! Taste and judge unique and delicious blackberry creations from some of the finest bakeries and restaurants in this area. Tickets are $15 before the event and $20 the day of. All proceeds to benefit ABR. Tickets go on sale Monday, August 15th at The Picnic Pantry Cafe. Contact Tiffany Sands for more info at 865-738-3183.

Make your experience and your day complete by reserving your spot at the Blackberry Jam Wine Tasting hosted by The Picnic Pantry. Enjoy a blackberry inspired four course meal... Each course being paired with the perfect wine! $50 per person. Proceeds to benefit ABR. Call 865-738-3183 for reservations.

Created in 1996, ABR is a unique black bear rehabilitation facility, in that they rescue, rehabilitate, and release these bears back into the wild. Helping orphaned and/or injured bears from all over the country, they give black bears a second chance. Their mission is three fold. 1.) To educate the public about black bears and the regional threats facing them; 2.) To rehabilitate orphaned and injured bears for release to the wild; and 3.) To research bear attributes which may help solve other environmental or health issues.

Please come and take advantage of this opportunity to support, donate and help such a worthy cause! For more information visit www.trilliumcove.com and www.appalachianbearrescue.org. If you are interested in becoming a vendor please email Amy Rochelle at amy@southernfriedgallery.com.

Current Sponsors: The Daily Times, IGA Townsend Village Market, Parkside Realty Services, Pistol Creek Catch of the Day, Alexander Graphics, Blackberry Briar, Byron’s Printing, Cabin Treasures, Dancing Bear Lodge, Dirty Dougs, Dogwood Cabins, Hassell Creek, Little River Outfitters, Norris Mountain, Picnic Pantry Café, Richardson Construction, Southern Fried Gallery, Spectra Recycling, Tipps Signs, Townsend Artisan Guild, Trillium Cove Home & Garden, White Water.