Tri-Cities Jazz Fest This WeekendMentored by jazz great Dizzy Gillespie and considered one of the top jazz trumpeters in the world in his own right, Jon Faddis will headline the 2005 Tri-Cities Jazz Fest at East Tennessee State University … Fifth Annual Jazz Composers Collective at Jazz StandardTonight through Saturday, Jazz Standard will host the groups of the Jazz Composer’s Collective. Brainchild of bassist Ben Allison and pianist Frank Kimbrough, the Jazz Composer’s Collective pools talent and vision into katrina’s economic impact powerful lineup of musicians.
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JOHNSON CITY – “Positive/Negative,” a national, juried exhibition of art at East Tennessee State University’s Slocumb Galleries, will be on display from Jan. 30-Feb. 17.
This 21st annual event features works in a variety of media, including, painting, drawing, sculpture and photography.
Juror Vince Pitelka, head of the Clay division at the Appalachian Center for Craft in Smithville, was “impressed with the quality of submissions” and chose a wide array of works, from the traditional to the eccentric.
A reception and lecture by Pitelka will be held Thursday, Feb. 2. The reception from 4-6 p.m. in Slocumb Galleries, located on the first floor of Ball Hall, will be followed by the 6 p.m. lecture in 127 Ball Hall.
The exhibit, reception and lecture are free and open to the public. Slocumb’s regular hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday.
For more information or for special assistance for those with disabilities, call Tim McDonald, interim director of Slocumb Galleries, at (423) 439-4291 or the ETSU Department of Art and Design at 439-4247.

Don’t forget the Geeks of the South (a new name is in the works) Dinner tonight, 7:00 @ Panera Bread in Johnson City. All are welcome to attend this evening’s meeting where we will be discussing podcasts, blogs, and other exciting new media in the Tri-Cities area.
Reasons to come include:

• Learn more about podcasting
• Learn more about blogging
• Network with other like minded individuals in our area
• Discuss how we can promote New Tech in the region
• Eat delicious cookies!
• Get Thomas Eorgan and Jose Castillo to sign your iPod (sorry guys)

Anyway, please come out tonight for a fun and informative evening.

From thinkjose
It’s official! The geek dinner-get together has become a reality and our first one is next week. Wednesday December 21, 7pm at Panera Bread in Johnson City, TN.

So bring your laptop for the free wireless, your thoughts to share on everything blog-podcast-geekdom, and your contact info to share with other like minded tech savvy folks. I will be sharing some ideas on podcasting and the internet as a way to build a network of like-minded people.

I have set up a writeboard
(password: panera) to catalog who is coming so we can prepare nametags and some other potential goodies to give away. Click the link, enter the password, edit the page with your name and link, and then show up on Wed. Also please let us know if you have anyone interested in possibly sponsoring future events.

Thanks and I would like to thank Austin, Tim, and Jeff for their support in getting this together.

See you on Wednesday!

Jose Castillo

Does anyone else know if other downtown associations in the area are doing something like this?

From Kingsport!
Thanksgiving and Christmas are around the corner. We all have holiday shopping to do and meals to prepare. Learn how you can prepare for the holidays and support the local business in our area.

On Weds. Nov. 16th, the Washington County Public Library will feature a showcase of local goods and services. Susan Howard, a member of the Downtown Merchants Association will share information about upcoming promotions planned by their group. Activities similar to last year’s month long campaign called Come Home Begins at Home will highlight products and promotions being conducted by our locally owned businesses.

Roy Settle, coordinator for the Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development Council promotes local products and services as well as conservation. He will showcase produces and services available in southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. The website http://www.localgoods.org/ provides a preview of the items that will be featured.

Anthony Flaccavento, Executive Director of Appalachian Sustainable Development, is involved with the local Farmer’s Market on Wednesday and Saturday in the Municipal parking lot and works with their Appalachian Harvest program to ensure that local merchants carry products grown organically by local farmers. Mr. Flaccavento will also provide information about the Sustainable Wood project that encourages local processing of forest products.

There will also be a discussion about the diversity and vitality of our local economy and the importance of supporting home-grown products and services. Please plan to be attend and become involved in helping the local business community grow and prosper. Locale products will be available to sample The program is free and open to the public.
Call 676-6298 for details.

Washington County Public Library
205 Oak Hill Street
Abingdon, VA 24210

Contact:
Will Stein
(276) 676-6298
wstein@wcpl.net