Catch the Spirit of Appalachia
"Keeping Appalachian Heritage Alive"
"Keeping Appalachian Heritage Alive"
Welcome to the Love of Story
"Stories...Grandpa told me stories. High on the mountain, I'd sit on the floor at Grandpa's feet. The warmth of fire crackling in the fireplace, the flickering shadows of the lamplight on the wall, the swish of the wind on the tin roof...all this intertwined with the sound of his voice as it echoed in the quiet of the room. He told stories of stalking panthers, of front porch music, of people born and people dying. And all his stories brought real-life drama to a little girl searching for heroes...heroes she could just reach out and touch." —Amy Ammons Garza
Catch the Spirit of Appalachia is a group of dedicated Western North Carolina individuals who are holding local memory in place by saving, by sharing, by passing on the remnants of local memory and local human community by the ancient rule of neighborliness, by the love of precious family, by the passing down of family stories, and by the wish to have a sense of place...a sense of "home."
STORIES OF MOUNTAIN FOLK RADIO SHOW—LISTEN ONLINE www.storiesofmountainfolk.com
The Ammons Sisters, cofounders of Catch the Spirit of Appalachia, along with the help of Linda Faulkner (radio), have achieved one of their dreams—a radio show to honor the heritage and save the stories of our local mountain people. Beginning in September, 2008, at 11am every Saturday morning, “Stories of Mountain Folk” premiered on WRGC Jackson County radio, 680 AM. The 1/2 hour show, composed of two interviews per week , are interviews of neighbors, friends and family--those who work together, play together, and go to church together--who tell about old time ways, talents, professions and community. In the last week of December, 2008, with the help of Neal Hearn, a professional radio personality, a podcast was established so the show would have it's own website. Please go to www.storiesofmountainfolk.com and listen to the shows about "planting by the signs," "cakewalks," "Decoration Day," and the interesting lives of people whose families have lived in the mountains of Western North Carolina for generations, and those who got here as soon as they could.
This website also contains our CURRENT EVENTS:
Mountain youth talent shows, workshops & residences, community festivals, community plays, performance schedule and other events where dates or additions/cancellations may be made.
The Purpose of Catch the Spirit of Appalachia
Established in 1989, incorporated as a A 501(c)3 nonprofit heritage organization in1991, the vision of Catch the Spirit of Appalachia (CSA) is to "Encourage youth to cherish their heritage & creativity and inspire connections with all cultures." Situated in Jackson County in Western North Carolina, CSA's mission is “Planting the Seeds of Heritage through the Arts.”
The People
CSA Cofounders Amy Ammons Garza, Mountain Storyteller, and Doreyl Ammons Cain, Visual Artist, a team known as The Ammons Sisters, are dedicated to reaching every child they can with the message that they are creative, can achieve success and have the heritage background that will sustain them throughout their lives. The sisters are actively promoting literacy and awareness of self-worth in all children and adults.
The CSA board of Directors is a group of local people who believe in the mission of the organization and extend themselves, involving the goals of CSA into their private lives. Many members of the board have been with the organization since it's inception 22 years ago: Dr. Ray Menze, Irene Hooper; followed closely by long time members Gail Stillwell Cooper, Gail A. Nolen, Etheree Chancellor, Pam Dengler, Vera Holland Guise, Mary Jo Hooper Cobb, Becky Nelson, Dot Conner, Norma Medford, Judy Rhodes, Victoria A. Casey McDonald, Neal Hearn, Harold Sims, Krista Robb, and Heather Gordon.
Regional advisors to CSA have been Jenny Johnson, Director of the Swain County Center for the Arts and Leesa D. Sutton, a development office for the area's Division of Tourism, Film, and Sports Development, with help from these past board members: Cathy Stillwell Gibson, Dr. David Teague, Amanda Dills Stewart, Carl Hooper, Nelma Jean Bryson, and Annie Harlow.
Board of Directors
(l-r) Doreyl Ammons Cain, Judy Rhodes, Victoria McDonald, Etheree Chancellor, Irene Hooper, Pam Dengler, Mary Jo Cobb, Ray Menze. Not shown in photo: Amy Ammons Garza
Christmas 2010 Board Party
(l-r: Kneeling: Jerry Cain in front, Doreyl Cain and Harold Sims. Middle row: Jenny Johnson, Pam Dengler, Victoria Casey McDonald, Kate Sims, Mary Jo & Wayne Cobb. Back row: Neal Hearn, Steve & Gail Cooper.
Not shown: Amy Garza talking photo)
Now Scheduling Performances, Residencies & Workshops
For the 2011-2012 School Year
Mountain Storytelling with The Ammons Sisters:
Doreyl Ammons Cain, visual artist and Amy Ammons Garza, storyteller.
For Storytelling Performances & Workshops
Contact: Amy Ammons Garza at (828) 631-4587
29 Regal Ave., Sylva, NC 28779
Click here to email Amy
Contact: Doreyl Ammons Cain at (828) 293-2239
P.O. Box 339, Tuckasegee, NC 28783
Click here to email Doreyl
STORIES OF MOUNTAIN FOLK RADIO SHOW—LISTEN ONLINE www.storiesofmountainfolk.com
The Ammons Sisters, cofounders of Catch the Spirit of Appalachia, along with the help of Linda Faulkner (radio), have achieved one of their dreams—a radio show to honor the heritage and save the stories of our local mountain people. Beginning in September, 2008, at 11am every Saturday morning, “Stories of Mountain Folk” premiered on WRGC Jackson County radio, 680 AM. The 1/2 hour show, composed of two interviews per week , are interviews of neighbors, friends and family--those who work together, play together, and go to church together--who tell about old time ways, talents, professions and community. In the last week of December, 2008, with the help of Neal Hearn, a professional radio personality, a podcast was established so the show would have it's own website. Please go to www.storiesofmountainfolk.com and listen to the shows about "planting by the signs," "cakewalks," "Decoration Day," and the interesting lives of people whose families have lived in the mountains of Western North Carolina for generations, and those who got here as soon as they could.
This website also contains our CURRENT EVENTS:
Mountain youth talent shows, workshops & residences, community festivals, community plays, performance schedule and other events where dates or additions/cancellations may be made.
The Purpose of Catch the Spirit of Appalachia
Established in 1989, incorporated as a A 501(c)3 nonprofit heritage organization in1991, the vision of Catch the Spirit of Appalachia (CSA) is to "Encourage youth to cherish their heritage & creativity and inspire connections with all cultures." Situated in Jackson County in Western North Carolina, CSA's mission is “Planting the Seeds of Heritage through the Arts.”
The People
CSA Cofounders Amy Ammons Garza, Mountain Storyteller, and Doreyl Ammons Cain, Visual Artist, a team known as The Ammons Sisters, are dedicated to reaching every child they can with the message that they are creative, can achieve success and have the heritage background that will sustain them throughout their lives. The sisters are actively promoting literacy and awareness of self-worth in all children and adults.
The CSA board of Directors is a group of local people who believe in the mission of the organization and extend themselves, involving the goals of CSA into their private lives. Many members of the board have been with the organization since it's inception 22 years ago: Dr. Ray Menze, Irene Hooper; followed closely by long time members Gail Stillwell Cooper, Gail A. Nolen, Etheree Chancellor, Pam Dengler, Vera Holland Guise, Mary Jo Hooper Cobb, Becky Nelson, Dot Conner, Norma Medford, Judy Rhodes, Victoria A. Casey McDonald, Neal Hearn, Harold Sims, Krista Robb, and Heather Gordon.
Regional advisors to CSA have been Jenny Johnson, Director of the Swain County Center for the Arts and Leesa D. Sutton, a development office for the area's Division of Tourism, Film, and Sports Development, with help from these past board members: Cathy Stillwell Gibson, Dr. David Teague, Amanda Dills Stewart, Carl Hooper, Nelma Jean Bryson, and Annie Harlow.
Board of Directors
(l-r) Doreyl Ammons Cain, Judy Rhodes, Victoria McDonald, Etheree Chancellor, Irene Hooper, Pam Dengler, Mary Jo Cobb, Ray Menze. Not shown in photo: Amy Ammons Garza
Christmas 2010 Board Party
(l-r: Kneeling: Jerry Cain in front, Doreyl Cain and Harold Sims. Middle row: Jenny Johnson, Pam Dengler, Victoria Casey McDonald, Kate Sims, Mary Jo & Wayne Cobb. Back row: Neal Hearn, Steve & Gail Cooper.
Not shown: Amy Garza talking photo)
Now Scheduling Performances, Residencies & Workshops
For the 2011-2012 School Year
Mountain Storytelling with The Ammons Sisters:
Doreyl Ammons Cain, visual artist and Amy Ammons Garza, storyteller.
For Storytelling Performances & Workshops
Contact: Amy Ammons Garza at (828) 631-4587
29 Regal Ave., Sylva, NC 28779
Click here to email Amy
Contact: Doreyl Ammons Cain at (828) 293-2239
P.O. Box 339, Tuckasegee, NC 28783
Click here to email Doreyl
