Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Monday, March 27, 2017
Come Celebrate Earth Day in Abingdon on 4-22-17
Come Celebrate Earth Day in Abingdon!
EARTH DAY CELEBRATION, PAPER SHREDDING & E-WASTE RECYCLING
The Town of Abingdon will hold its 2017 EARTH DAY CELEBRATION on Saturday, April 22nd from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fields-Penn House on Main Street across from the Farmers Market in Abingdon. Admission is FREE. This year there will be approximately 60 groups (non-profits, private groups, local businesses, educators and state & federal agencies) providing a great deal of fun and information to share. The theme of the event is Energy: Use, Conservation, Efficiency, and Green Alternatives.
Several activities are planned throughout the celebration such as a rain barrel workshop where you can make your own rain barrel to take home (registration required). MECC’s mobile solar powered energy system, SPARC-E, will be on-site for walk-through tours. There will be a free Kids Zone area with free games & prizes, a stage with musical performances, a “trash to treasure” crafts tent, educational displays, face painting, a local foods food court, and some groups will have wildlife on display. Kids who bring the Earth Day flyer to the Sustain Abingdon table will receive a free “green” item! There will be a food drive to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank. Bring in two (2) cans of food and register for a chance to win 1 of 3 great prizes; a recycling bin for your home or office, an Earthbox Container Gardening System, or a basket filled with gift certificates and merchandise from local businesses. Keep Southwest Virginia Beautiful is collecting "gently used" shoes for reuse and fundraising. Also, pet supplies (food, treats, detergent, bleach, blankets, towels and cat litter) are being collected and donated to the local animal shelter.
Just down the street in front of the Arts Depot, we will have free document shredding and a drop-off area for electronic waste (e-waste). Any item that has a power-cord or uses batteries is considered e-waste. E-waste includes but is not limited to laptop/desktop computers, CRT /LCD monitors, hard drives, modems, plug and play devices, printers/scanners, copiers, commercial telephone equipment, fax machines, power backups, power transformers, misc. electronic business equipment, wires, cables, circuit boards, video game systems, DVD/VCR players, microwave ovens, televisions, and small electronic household appliances. This will be a free service provided by the Town of Abingdon. Items with compressors like refrigerators, ACs and dehumidifiers cannot be accepted. Other household hazardous materials (like batteries, chemicals, petroleum products and fluorescent light bulbs) can be taken to MXI Inc. during their annual HHW event in May.
For information, please contact Sarita Moore, of the Town of Abingdon Sustain Abingdon Committee, at 276-628-4321 or visit the Sustain Abingdon website: www.sustainabingdon.com or like us on facebook: www.facebook.com/SustainAbingdon.
Friday, March 24, 2017
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Monday, March 20, 2017
Statewide Tornado Drill On March 21, 2017
TOWN OF ABINGDON
Abingdon, Virginia
Statewide Tornado Drill On March 21,
2017
The Town of
Abingdon will be participating in the statewide Tornado Drill on Tuesday, March
21, 2017 at 9:45 AM. The Town's AlertAbingdon Notification system will be
activated to simulate an actual Tornado Warning Notification. This will include
the Town's warning sirens as they will sound as part of this drill. DO NOT CALL
911 in regards to warning siren inquiries! In the event that an emergency
occurs during the time of the drill, the proper precautions will go into
effect.
To receive the notifications form AlertAbingdon for the drill
and future events, please go to alertabingdon.com or text 24210 to 888777 to sign up for
alerts. To further participate in the drill itself, please sign up at http://www.vaemergency.gov/news-local/statewide-drills/.
Friday, March 17, 2017
2017 THURSDAY JAMS BRING A 5TH YEAR OF FREE CONCERTS TO DOWNTOWN ABINGDON
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2017
2017 THURSDAY
JAMS BRING A 5TH YEAR OF FREE CONCERTS TO DOWNTOWN ABINGDON
Abingdon, VA – Abingdon’s popular summer music
series, Thursday Jams, returns to the Market Pavilion for a fifth year of
fantastic – and free! - concerts. The Thursday Jams series showcases a wide range
of nationally recognized bands at the Abingdon Market Pavilion each Thursday
evening, May 18 – July 20, 2017. Presented by Blue Ridge Beverage and the
Abingdon Music Experience, the concerts are free and open to the public; a beer
garden will be provided by Abingdon Main Street, and local food vendors will be
on hand.
Thursday Jams kicks off May 18th with
the Polyrhythmics, the Seattle-based band that’s redefining funk for the 21st
Century. The series also includes Americana bands like Forlorn Strangers or
Lindsay Lou and the Flatbellies, blues phenom Eric Gales, the Australian
hip-hop band Jakubi and many others. For a full listing of musical acts
and dates, visit www.abingdonmusicexperience.com.
This summer will mark the 5th annual
Thursday Jams series, which drew thousands of locals and visitors last year.
The series is presented by Blue Ridge Beverage, and sponsored in part by Bank
of Marion, EAV Express, Eastman Credit Union, First Community Bank, State Farm
agent Jamie Barger and Universal Fibers. This year Thursday Jams also received
one of the first Festival Sponsorships from Virginia Tourism Corporation.
Music will begin 7:00 pm each Thursday at the
Abingdon Market Pavilion, with a beer garden benefitting Abingdon Main Street
opening at 6:30 pm. A variety of food truck and local vendors will be on hand
offering concessions. The events are family-friendly, and attendees are
encouraged to bring their chairs and or blankets to enjoy the shows. No outside
alcohol is allowed.
The series will host a variety of musical genres
including Americana, southern rock, country, indie folk, soul and funk.
Bands performing during Thursday Jams have also appeared at
internationally-recognized festivals like Rhythm and Roots Reunion, Floyd Fest,
and Bonnaroo as well as Jimmy Kimmel Live and Music City Roots. Local talent
will open each Thursday for the headliners, who will start their sets at 8pm.
Abingdon Music Experience is now in its fifth
year of presenting live music in Abingdon. Other programs include January
Jams at Barter Theatre, Main Street Busker Fest September 2nd, and a new annual
event, Virginia Creeper Fest (April 29, 2017).
For a full listing of musical acts and dates,
visit www.abingdonmusicexperience.com. For more
information, call 276-676-2282 or email Event Coordinator Sara Saavedra at ssaavedra@abingdon-va.gov.
Thursday Jams 2017 Lineup
5/18/17 Polyrhythmics
Seattle’s Polyrhytmics have made a
name for themselves with the 2015 release of a critically acclaimed 7” dubbed The Killion Sessions, a series of high profile shows in New
Orleans during Mardi Gras and Jazzfest, followed
closely by the release of their third full length album Octagon. On the heels of a heavy touring cycle, the collective
continues to evolve and mature into muscular live unit apt to painting vivid
instrumental imagery using complex rhythms and a unique precision that is
redefining the term “funk” for 21st century audiences.
5/25/17 Aaron
Lee Tasjan
East Nashville-based musician Aaron Lee Tasjan has always considered himself a songwriter first and foremost,
writing his own off-kilter folk-inflected songs since he picked up his first
acoustic as a teen guitar prodigy. His most recently released Silver Tears offers a glimpse through the eyes of one
gifted songwriter and versatile musician. Whether playing guitar in the late
incarnation of riotous glam-rock innovators the New York Dolls, the
gender-bending, envelope-pushing sleaze n’ tease arena rock band Semi Precious
Weapons, the Neil Young-signed alt-country act Everest, British roots rock band
Alberta Cross, Southern rock stalwarts Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ or even as frontman of the devilishly cleverly-named
Heartbreakers meets Replacements rockers Madison Square Gardeners, offer
a glimpse through the eyes of one gifted songwriter and versatile musician.
6/1/17 Jakubi
Jakubi is a Melbourne-based band composed of two brothers, two
cousins and one friend whose love for producing music brought them together and
whose pure talent propelled them forward. Jakubi’s unique flavor stems from an
irresistible combination of jangly guitars, hip-hop beats and sailing synth rhythms. Flawlessly melding the
sounds of a talk box one minute and reggae-inspired guitar the next, the band’s infectious experimental songs
are guaranteed to get everyone dancing.
6/8/17 The Broadcast
Three decades from now, a documentary filmmaker in search
of his next rockumentary will come across The Broadcast
and realize he’s hit gold. The story of the rock and soul outfit not only comes
with its own high-octane soundtrack, it hits on all the key points: Challenges
are overcome, miles are logged, performances are slain and an oft-jaded music
industry is enticed. There’s dancing. There’s a love story. ith a mix of
soul, blues and classic rock arrangements, The Broadcast has shared stages
with Mavis Staples, John Prine, St. Paul &
The Broken Bones, The Wood Brothers, Brandi Carlisle, Keller Williams, Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers, George Porter
Jr. (Funky Meters), Betty LaVette, Charles
Bradley and Holly Williams, among others.
6/15/17 Forlorn
Strangers
Joined
by opening band: Missy Raines & The New Hip
Forlorn Strangers is a Nashville, TN based Americana
quintet, with members hailing from the great states of Florida, Maryland,
Pennsylvania & Minnesota. The band is comprised of five songwriters, each
having their own distinct sounds & styles that blend into one cohesive
voice. Their music is rooted in family harmonies & flavored with guitars,
banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dobro, & foot stomping percussion. The band is
comprised of sisters Abigail Dempsey (fiddle, percussion, vocals) and Hannah
Dempsey Lusk (mandolin, percussion, vocals); along with Chris Banke (guitar, mandolin, vocals),
Benjamin Lusk (banjo, guitar, vocals), and Jesse Thompson (upright bass, dobro, guitar, vocals). Since
2013, Forlorn Strangers has released two EPs (While the Grass Grows and
American Magic Tricks) and has toured continuously across the United States,
playing for an ever increasing group of appreciative fans.
6/22/17 The Marcus King Band
Songwriter. Guitarist. Singer. Bandleader. At only 20 years of age, Marcus King’s
dazzling musical ability is evident throughout The Marcus King Band, the young phenom’s 2nd full-length LP and first for
Fantasy Records. Operating within the fiery brand of American roots music
that King calls "soul-influenced psychedelic southern rock," the
album highlights King’s gorgeous, rough-hewn vocals, soaring guitar work and
heartfelt songwriting all amidst a group of masterful musicians who, together,
are quickly becoming one of the country’s most sought after live acts.
6/29/17 Lindsay
Lou & The Flatbellys
In 2009 The Flatbellys recorded Get ‘Round in a house
on Foster Ave in Lansing, MI. Flatbelly mandolinist, Josh and Spencer, Flatbelly bassist, joined a local
bluegrass band, and I left the country for my last semester of college. When I
returned I had an album’s worth of material and convinced the two remaining Flatbellys, and a handful of other
Michigan musicians, to help me record it. We called it Lindsay Lou - A
Different Tune.
7/6/17 Eric
Gales
Blues guitar phenom Eric Gales was born and raised
in Memphis, learning to play at age four from older brothers Eugene and Manuel
in imitation of their upside-down, left-handed style (a tradition actually
passed down from their grandfather, Dempsey Garrett Sr., who was known to jam
with the likes of Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf). Winning his first
blues contest at 11, four years later Eric signed to Elektra to issue his 1991
debut LP, recorded with Eugene on bass; Picture of a Thousand Faces followed in
1993. Manuel (who previously performed under the alias Little Jimmy King)
reunited with his siblings for 1995's Left Hand Band, credited to the Gales
Brothers.
7/13/17 Brent
Cobb
Just off of his tour in support of Chris Stapleton, Brent
Cobb and his band join us in Abingdon, VA for a free show downtown at the
Abingdon Market Pavilion. Brent Cobb didn’t set out to write an album that feels and
sounds like the place he grew up. But now that the grooves have been cut in his
debut LP, Shine on Rainy Day, there’s no denying the people, the places and the
vibe of his southcentral Georgia home infuse almost every
song.
7/20/17 Look
Homeward
Look Homeward is a band of brackish brethren hailing from
the piedmont of North Carolina. Lee Anderson (guitar, vocals), Alex Bingham
(upright bass), Evan Ringel (trombone, fiddle) and Wilson Greene IV (banjo) pair the
Appalachian drawls and passionate picking of venerated field recordings with
the soul tones of Atlantic beaches and boggy bayous. Marrying banjos with
brass, the quartet celebrates the American South in a mingling of old and new,
traditional yet surprising. Add honest folk songwriting and the result is music
that just might sound like home, wherever you’re from.
For an online press kit, including high-res photos and full band
bios, click here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/70acnhkgoo0db58/AAAa2uY2sautNnyoZIaEDgeya?dl=0
####
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Town Talk with Mayor Lowe on 4-10-17
Town
Talk With Mayor Lowe
On Monday, April 10, 2017, Mayor Cathy Lowe will
hold the next “Town Talk” event. She invites the public to discuss town
initiatives, share ideas, ask questions, and connect with others in the
community. This FREE event is in a casual, friendly environment and all are
welcome.
"We
have been so pleased with the citizens’ response to our new initiative,” said
Mayor Cathy Lowe. “Please join us Abingdon, we're listening."
The April “Town Talk” event will be held at the
Highlands Union Bank-Main Branch at 4:30PM. The Highlands Union Bank-Main
Branch is located at 340 West Main Street, Abingdon.
For more information on “Town Talk,” call
276-451-0439.
TRAFFIC INFORMATION FOR 2017 SHAMROCK 4MILER
Abingdon
Police Department
For Immediate
Release
Traffic
Information FOr 2017 Shamrock 4miler
The Shamrock 4 Miler will be held Friday, March 17,
2017 in downtown Abingdon. This is a large event that originates, and ends, at
the Abingdon Farmers Market on Remsburg Drive. The four mile loop course, and
one mile walking loop, guide participants through downtown Abingdon primarily
on Valley and Main Streets.
Motorists are advised to use caution when passing
through downtown Abingdon on Friday night.
Be alert for police and fire directing traffic and for participants on
the roadways.
Due to race preparations, Remsburg Drive will be
closed on Friday at 3 p.m. to allow for set up of the timer station and
registration areas. Remsburg will remain closed until 11 p.m. Friday night.
Traffic will be slowed, delayed, and diverted to
allow participants to safely complete the course.
Please
expect delays on the following streets:
Remsburg
Drive Cummings Street Wall Street
Depot
Square West Main Street Plumb Alley
Valley
Street College Street Church Street
Oak
Street Pecan Street Court Street
Tanner
Street Whites Mill Road Deadmore Street
Hutton
Street Cambridge Street Rugby Terrace
Oxford
Street Henderson Court Walden Road
Jefferson
Circle Boone Street Thompson Drive
Park
Street Railroad Street A Street
Please remain alert for participants and obey
instructions of the officers and officials providing traffic control.
Monday, March 13, 2017
MEMORIAL DEDICATED TO ONLY RICHMOND DIVISION FBI SPECIAL AGENT KILLED IN AN ADVERSARIAL ACTION
Federal Bureau
of Investigation
Richmond
Division
1970 East
Parham
Road
Richmond, Virginia 23228
MEMORIAL DEDICATED
TO ONLY RICHMOND DIVISION FBI SPECIAL AGENT KILLED IN AN ADVERSARIAL ACTION
Seventy-five years ago,
on this date, two special agents assigned to the Richmond Division of the FBI
attempted to take into custody two United States Army deserters in Pat’s Café
is Abingdon, Virginia. An adversarial
action took place and Special Agent Charlie Tignor was shot five times and
Special Agent Hubert J. Treacy, Jr. (pictured) was shot and killed. SA Treacy was the 13th G-Man to be
killed in action.
On March 11, 1942, the two deserters, Army privates
Charles Joseph Lovett and James Edward Testerman, had assaulted an Army
Sergeant at Fort Oglethorpe in Georgia, then car-jacked an individual before
making their way into Abingdon, Virginia.
On March 13, 1942, FBI Special Agents Tignor and Treacy identified two
individuals in Pat’s Café that matched the descriptions provided for Lovett and
Testerman. The two agents approached the
men and asked for identification, at which time gunfire ensued. Special Agent Treacy was killed almost
instantly and Special Agent Tignor received five gunshot wounds which left him
incapacitated and unable to continue pursuit of the subjects. Lovett and Testerman fled and were pursued by
roughly 100 law enforcement personnel from the FBI, Abingdon and local
jurisdictions. Within hours they were
captured and taken into custody; both were tried, convicted and sentenced to
life in federal prison.
A memorial plaque has been erected near the location
where the shooting took place, and was dedicated today with family members and
law enforcement officials in attendance.
The location of the plaque is at a point near the Historical Society of
Washington County – 306 Depot Square, Southwest, Abingdon, Virginia.
This dedication was made possible by the efforts of
the Town of Abingdon, the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI – Blue
Ridge Chapter, and the FBI Agents Association.Friday, March 10, 2017
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Abingdon’s Thursday Jam series gets a boost for 2017
Abingdon’s Thursday
Jam series gets a boost for 2017
Abingdon,
VA – Abingdon’s Thursday Jams return for summer 2017, now with additional grant
funding to help present an even more exciting lineup. The popular summer music series has received
funding from the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) Music Festival Sponsorship
program.
The
lineup will be announced on social media over two days, March 14th
and 15th. For the first look at the 2017 schedule, be sure to like
Abingdon Music Experience on Facebook, and Visit Abingdon Virginia on Twitter.
Abingdon’s
Thursday Jams received a grant of $7,500, which will subsidize the cost of
booking national acts for the music series. For 10 weeks, May 18 – July 20,
2017, Abingdon Music Experience will present free outdoor concerts in downtown
Abingdon.
In past years, Abingdon Music Experience has
presented some of the hottest names in Americana, roots and folk-rock,
including Mandolin Orange, Wood Brothers, Rising Appalachia, Langhorne Slim,
and John Moreland.
The free
music series draws visitors from multiple states to eat, shop and stay
overnight in Abingdon, Virginia, helping to boost the tourism economy.
According
to the Virginia Tourism Corporation, music is an important driver of tourism in
Virginia, and an important part of Virginia culture. Virginia’s music scene
boasts a variety of different genres such as bluegrass, country, gospel,
R&B, rock and roll, jazz and folk, and more. Virginia hosts a variety of
events to showcase its rich musical history, with popular festivals that take
place year-round. The Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) Music Festival
Sponsorship program’s purpose is to help promote the growth of - and to offset
the costs incurred by - Virginia music festivals, and to also build Virginia’s
brand as a music destination.
For more
information, or to sign up for an email announcement of the lineup, visit AbingdonMusicExperience.com. Follow AME on social media at Facebook: /
abingdonmusicexperience,
Twitter: @visitabingdon or Instagram: @visitabingdonva.
####
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
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