Community Notes:

"The Smoky Mountain Field School has enjoyed success primarily because of two reasons," said Gayle Cooper, Field School founder and current course instructor. "The first reason is the dedication of its faculty and the love of sharing with others their areas of expertise, and the second is the commitment of so many individuals who have come back year after year to
participate in the courses."

Field School courses begin in March and continue through October.

Field School offers courses in cultural history, day hikes, bugs, tracking and navigation, photography, bears, salamanders, flowers and trees, and even overnight hikes. Some courses are especially designed for families.

The Smoky Mountain Field School is an integral partner in Great Smoky National Park’s Resource Education program, which reaches more than 3 million people each year, including more than 79,000 in formal, ranger-led programs. The Field School is able to serve another 800 or so in a more in-depth manner with a variety of instructors with specialized expertise in the natural and cultural resources of the Smokies.

Visit www.outreach.utk.edu/smoky/ for a complete 2007 course calendar, or call UT Professional & Personal Development at 865-974-0150 for a free 2007 Smoky Mountain Field School catalog.

Waterhouse receives certificate in photography
Linda A. Waterhouse of Maryville has just been granted a certificate for successfully completing the course of study in professional photography offered by the New York Institute of Photography located in New York City. This certificate is granted by the NYIP under the authority of the New York State Department of Education. NYIP’s Distance Education Course
in Professional Photography includes training in all phases of the art, technique and business of photography.

New York Institute of Photography is the oldest photography institute in North America, training thousands of students annually. While the majority of enrolled students comes from the United States and Canada, NYIP has earned a worldwide reputation that has also attracted students from all part of the globe, including Europe, Africa, and Asia. NYIP’s programs are accredited by the Distance Education Training Council.

Haley Yunker earns National Dean’s List honor
Haley Yunker has been selected to receive the honorary award of the National Dean’s List 2005/2006. The National Dean’s List is the largest most prestigious publication in the country recognizing gifted students.

Hayley is the daughter of Kenny and Gail Yunker of Maryville.

AnimalWorks encourages owners to spay or neuter
In conjunction with the national Spay Day USA event, AnimalWorks encourages local pet owners to have their pets spayed or neutered.

To make a spay/neuter appointment at AnimalWorks’ low-cost spay/neuter clinic, call 865-379-2227.

Grant monies are available to help defray individual spay/neuter costs. Household income and residency restrictions may apply to recipients of services provided by grants. To find out if you qualify, call the AnimalWorks clinic at 865-379-2227.

This year marks the 13th annual Spay Day USA, a national campaign of the Humane Society of the United States. Since Spay Day USA’s inception in 1995, participants nationwide have altered an estimated 1,366,000 animals. This year, Spay Day USA is slated for Tuesday, February 27.

AnimalWorks’ low-cost spay/neuter clinic and Alcoa adoption site is at 3377 Regal Drive behind West Chevrolet off Alcoa Highway. AnimalWorks also operates two pet adoption centers in the Petsmart stores at Morrell Road and at Turkey Creek in Knoxville.

For more information about AnimalWorks’ pet adoption or low-cost spay/neuter services, call 835-379-2227 or visit www.animalworkstn.org.

Dog Obedience classes set for spring
Registration is now being accepted for a variety of dog obedience training classes.

Puppy Start will focus on managing and raising your puppy to prevent "puppy mistakes" and build good behavior. You will be introduced to "Click and Treat" training, a popular method to shape and reward good manners. Topics covered will include: Your puppy’s personality profile, housebreaking, house proofing, setting limits, and building social skills. Basic control exercises will also be taught, along with loose lead-walking skills. Puppies must be at least 9 weeks old to enter this class and have proof of at least two Distemper-Parvovirus vaccinations. Classes will be held from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m., every Monday, March 19 - April 16, cost is $50.

Basic Manners will provide the tools needed to shape your dog’s behavior to promote calm, well-mannered, social behavior.

Skills covered include: Loose lead walking, "nice" greeting, "pay attention", "leave it alone" and basic commands (sit, down stay, come). "Click and Treat" reward training and solving common behavior problems will also be discussed. Dogs must be 12 weeks or older to enter this class and have proof of current rabies vaccination. Classes will be held from 6 - 7:15 p.m., every Monday and Wednesday, March 19-April 18, cost is $80

Play Train! Practical dog training games is designed for dogs who have completed basic obedience training who wish to continue learning a series of fun games that will strengthen basic skills and introduce new ones such as clicker training, retrieving, off-lead control, AKC Rally and tricks with very little homework. Dogs must be people-friendly (no history of aggression), 6 months or older, and have proof of current Rabies vaccination. Classes will be held from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m., every Wednesday, March 21 - April 8, cost is $40.

Lori Rizzo is the instructor for all dog obedience classes. She has 30 years’ experience teaching obedience classes and participates in AKC performance events, therapy work, and service dog work. Online registration is now available at www.parksrec.com or at the Parks and Recreation office, 316 S. Everett High Road with a deadline of March 15. All classes will be held at the Everett Recreation Center. For additional information, call 865-983-9244 or visit the website.

Detox your Home
Blount County Solid Waste Authority and Keep Blount Beautiful are sponsoring a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Saturday, March 17th from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Foothills Plaza between movie theatre and Fowler’s Furniture. The purpose of this event is for citizens to dispose of hazardous waste properly and protect our water, land, and air in Blount County from hazardous waste pollution. The collection and disposal costs for this event are paid by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

Citizens may bring any of the following for disposal: paints, herbicides, batteries, household cleaners, pesticides, aerosols, paint strippers/removers and any other hazardous materials in your home. No explosives, medical wastes, business or agricultural wastes or radioactive materials. The event will also be collecting certain electronics such as cellular phones, computers, and televisions. For a complete list of accepted materials, visit www.keepblountbeautiful.org.

Last spring, over 70,000 lbs of waste was collected, including 15,000 lbs of computers and 38,000 lbs of latex paint that was recycled.

For more information, call Keep Blount Beautiful at 865-681-4809.